Short-term rentals in interior and rural areas. A comprehensive study in Aragon, Spain

Short-term rentals have become a prominent issue for both academic research and public policy. While the determinants and impact of Airbnb have been largely studied in touristic and major cities, there is still a lack of contextualized studies that focus on the activity of Airbnb in small towns and interior and rural areas. The aim of this article is to comprehensively analyse short-term rentals (STR) in Aragon (Spain), an interior region predominantly rural and mountainous. It explores the geographical distribution of STRs, their relationship with the hospitality sector, housing stocks and other geographic and socioeconomic variables. To do so, statistical analyses (Pearson correlation, Pareto and multiple linear regression models) were used. First, the results suggest that Airbnb overlaps the traditional tourist accommodation supply and has close links with second homes and empty properties. Second, the presence of Airbnb is denser in mountain towns, close to ski-resorts, nature and wildlife.