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Hungary’s government is considering a plan to impose a moratorium on new Airbnb licenses in Budapest and to raise taxes on short-term apartment rentals in the capital city, according to Economy Minister Marton Nagy. This announcement comes about a month after residents of Budapest’s sixth district voted to ban short-term rentals starting in 2026, marking the first such ban in one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations. Some residents in European tourist hotspots blame short-term rentals for driving up home prices.
In central Europe, Budapest was the most popular city for short-term stays in 2023, with 6.7 million guest nights, according to Eurostat, ahead of Vienna, Prague, and Warsaw. Eurostat figures show almost 719 million guest nights spent in the European Union were booked via online platforms like Airbnb and Booking last year, with Paris leading EU capitals with over 19 million guest nights.
Nagy stated, “We are thinking about a possible moratorium and a tax hike in Budapest,” adding that the government had not made a decision yet. He emphasized that “the Airbnb market will change, and it is sure that it cannot grow further,” calling the issue a question of housing policy.
Nagy also mentioned that the government is negotiating the proposed new rules with trade organizations in the tourism industry and that changes would not affect short-term rental properties outside the capital. In Budapest’s sixth district, 54% of voters backed the ban on short-term rentals, with a 20.52% turnout in mid-September.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck off Japan’s Tokara Islands on Wednesday, with no tsunami warning issued but residents advised to remain vigilant.
The United States has rescinded licensing restrictions on ethane exports to China, allowing shipments to resume after a temporary halt and signalling progress in efforts to ease recent trade tensions.
Italy plans to grant approximately 500,000 work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, as announced in a cabinet statement. The initiative aims to address labor shortages by expanding legal immigration pathways
Following a deadly glacier collapse in Blatten, near the Swiss Alpine village of Kandersteg, the town is on high alert as melting permafrost and shifting rock threaten another potential disaster after it was buried a month ago.
China’s northern and western provinces are on high alert for flash floods and landslides as intense monsoon rains continue to overwhelm defences, killing at least seven and displacing communities across the country.
Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini airports, along with regional airports in the north, east, west, and south of the country, have resumed operations in Iran and are fully prepared to provide flight services.
North Korea has opened the expansive Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area on its eastern coast, welcoming visitors from 1 July. According to state-run media, the move aims to revive tourism and boost much-needed foreign currency earnings amid international sanctions.
Blue Origin launched six passengers into space aboard New Shepard, completing an 11-minute sub-orbital flight that crossed the Kármán Line.
Wizz Air has suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel, and its European services to Amman, Jordan, effective immediately until 15 September due to escalating situation in the Middle East. Also, the air carrier temporarily suspended its flights between Astana, Kazakhstan, and Abu Dhabi.
Kazakhstan’s flagship carrier, Air Astana, will temporarily suspend its flights from Atyrau to Dubai starting 28 June, due to a significant increase in flight duration.
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