Two Icelandic towns have recently placed heavy restrictions on how much tourist accommodation they allow.
RÚV reports that Kirkjubæjarklaustur town council recently passed a measure placing limitations on the kinds of short-term tourist accommodation that people can offer. According to the new measure, people renting out their property for tourists will be limited to 10 guests per property, with enough parking provided, and the assurance that everyday operations will not disturb the daily life of area residents.
The driving force behind the measure is the lack of available housing in Kirkjubæjarklaustur, although town council officials are hopeful that more housing will be built up in the area in order to play a greater part in the growing tourism industry in Iceland.
Earlier this month, the town of Vík í Mýrdal passed a similar measure, wherein all future applications for short-term tourist accommodation will be denied. The town currently has room for 1,300 guests, even though only 540 people actually live in Vík.
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