Holiday booking firm Airbnb is under pressure to block bookings during lockdown after concerns at the number of listings still showing at Scottish beauty spots over Easter.
It follows anger at some irresponsible hosts in the UK advertising “Covid-19 retreats” perfect for “isolating with family”.
Restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic include bans on non-essential travel. Hotels and B&Bs are only supposed to be for key-workers.
The Scottish Government has pleaded with tourists and second-home owners to stay away.
And at the weekend, Dr Catherine Calderwood was forced to quit her role as chief medical officer for Scotland after admitting she visited a holiday home on the coast of Fife twice against national guidance.
Brendan O’Hara, SNP MP for Argyll and Bute, wrote to Airbnb chief Brian Hesky demanding a crackdown.
In a letter seen by the Record, O’Hara said he is “seriously concerned” that it’s still possible to reserve and book accommodation in his area and other parts of rural Scotland.
“This is causing significant distress to local communities who rightly fear the virus could be spread by people coming into the area,” he said.
“An increase in population at this time also puts great stress on local resources and our NHS.
“Easter is approaching and I know there are serious concerns being raised about people using this time to travel and enjoy get-togethers with family and friends as they normally would. These are not normal times and our behaviour cannot change until it is safe to do so.”
Recent Airbnb listings appeared to be available all over O’Hara’s sprawling constituency, including parts of Loch Lomondside.
Some listings draw attention to being for key workers in isolation. Others include messages explaining they will be closed during lockdown.
But dozens of properties are advertising as normal with no obvious attempt to turn customers away.
UK Government tourism minister Nigel Huddleston yesterday repeated advice about essential travel.
He was responding to new examples, published by the BBC, of hosts advertising Covid-19 retreats in the UK.
One property, now edited, boasted it was cleaned with an antiviral UV light.
Huddleston said: “Our advice is clear. Essential travel does not include holidays, leisure travel and visits to second homes - and people must remain in their primary residence.
“It is incredibly irresponsible, and dangerous for some property owners to be marketing themselves as isolation retreats.
“We are writing to companies today to remind them of their responsibilities at this time.”
Airbnb said they have already taken measures to adapt to government rules and advice.
“We have written to hosts about the guidance and regulations that apply to their area and ask that they review these before accepting any new bookings,” a spokesman said.
Last week, Airbnb wrote to hosts on “extenuating circumstances” during lockdown.
Guests who made reservations before March 14 that begin before May 31 can cancel and get a full refund if Covid-19 stopped them travelling.
A 10 million US dollar fund is being made available to “superhosts” who rent out their own home and need help paying rent or mortgage.
