Short-term rentals, terrorism alert: goodbye to keyboxes and self check-in

In the increasingly smart world of short rentals, which recently, by number of nights, Has surpassed the hotel sector, here comes news that will make many managers and tourists turn up their noses: the Ministry of the Interior he decided to say goodbye to keyboxes and automated check-in. The circular, signed by Chief of Police Vittorio Pisani, obliges managers to encounter physically The guests to verify it identity. A crackdown that aims to strengthen security, especially in view of major events such as the Jubilee 2025, which will attract millions of tourists in Italy.

Keybox, what it is and how it works

Le key box, much loved for their practicality, allow guests to access the Lodging with a simplecode, eliminating the need to meet the owners. But it is precisely this simplicity that has come under the scrutiny of Interior Ministry: remote identification, in fact, does not guarantee that the person occupying the accommodation is actually the person who sent the documents. The risk? That the homes are used by individuals with generality not register, fueling security concerns.

The crackdown therefore includes:

• Personal identification, with verification of the correspondence between documents and individuals.
• Immediate communication of guest data to police headquarters competent.

For the Minister of the Interior Matteo Crying himself, "This model must be overcome" because not compliant with the regulations which imposes real control on the identity of the guests.

Tourism, terrorism alert in Italy?

In a period of high international alert, automated check-in is seen as a leak of securitypublic. According to Ministry of the Interior, the risk is that the accommodations will be exploited for criminal or terrorist activities. The measure is therefore also a deterrent in view of world-wide events, such as the Jubilee, which will see Italy at the centre of global attention.

The decision has sparked a debate among institutions and operators in the sector:

• Government and institutions: The Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè she supported it, stressing that the measure “guarantees a peaceful tourist experience”.
• Platforms like airbnb: During the Anci assembly, Airbnb declared that it wants to collaborate with Italian cities to promote more controlled hospitality, while expressing doubts about the critical issues for the sector.
• Italian Association of Short Term Rental Managers (AIGAB)): The AIGAB, while welcoming the controls against illegal activity, defined the obligation of physical recognition as a step backwards, highlighting that many managers already use advanced technologies, such as biometric tracking e OTP codes, comparable to banking security systems.

Short term rentals, how much do you earn?

- short rentals represent a pillar of Italian tourism, with over 608.000 registered accommodations in 2023. The Toscana dominates with 78.000 ads, followed by regions and cities of art. The sector generates a turnover of 3 billion euros contributes 167,6 million euros of tourist tax.

However, with thegoodbye to keyboxes andPhysical check-in required, the sector risks seeing a setback in its technological evolution, raising questions about the future of sharing economy in Italy.

Il Ministry of the Interior seems to want to bring short-term rentals back to their origins, eliminating the'automation that had made them so popular. The question now is: the return to traditional check-in will represent a real solution for the security or just another obstacle for managers and tourists? In the meantime, keyboxes seem destined to become a thing of the past.