Abstract:

In recent years, the dynamic growth of short-term rental platforms, particularly Airbnb, has become one of the key factors intensifying the phenomenon of overtourism in European historic cities. The aim of this paper is to analyze the impact of short-term rentals on urban tourism pressure in Rome, one of the most visited cities in Europe. The study is based on secondary data analysis derived from Eurostat, ISTAT, Inside Airbnb, Roma Capitale open data sources, and industry reports related to tourism and housing markets. The paper examines changes in the number of Airbnb listings, tourism growth dynamics, the concentration of tourist activity in the historic city center, and the potential impact of short-term rentals on housing availability and residents’ quality of life. Particular attention is given to the post-COVID-19 tourism recovery period. The findings indicate that the expansion of short-term rental platforms contributes to increasing tourism pressure, intensifies the touristification of urban space, and creates additional challenges for sustainable destination management. The paper contributes to the discussion on the role of short-term rental regulations and the application of smart tourism and governance tools in mitigating the negative effects of overtourism.