150 TOURISM LAW IN EUROPE 2. ACCOMMODATION AND RESTAURANTS Accommodation and restaurant business is primarily regulated by the Act on accommodation and catering activities4. However, there are plenty of other decrees and regulations in place all aiming to protect the consumers and customers as well as the employees working in the hospitality industry. As it would not be practical or even feasible to go through all the aspects of the regulations in the hospitality industry in this paper, I shall provide condensed summary on the subject. 2.1. Professional accommodation One does not need a specific permit to start and run accommodation business, which is professional provision of furnished rooms or other accommodation for clients in need of temporary accommodation. However, the law stipulates that the business owner is responsible for reporting the passenger (name, ID-number, address, country of origin if relevant and the length of stay) to local police authorities and upkeep records of all passengers lodging at the premises for one year from the date of arrival. After one year, the business owner must dispose of the information. Collecting, handling, and disposing must be done in accordance with the GDPR and national data protection law. The law and regulations apply to all actors providing professional accommodation regardless of the number of the rooms available or quality of the services provided. 2.2. Private persons The emerging phenomenon known as sharing economy has made it possible for private persons to provide short-term accommodation by letting their property via AirBnb. While it has been common practice to let or sublet an apartment, these contracts often extend from one month to couple of years and are covered through the Act on the rental of residential apartments. AirBnb on the other hand has made it possible to let or sublet one’s apartment for just a day or two and facilitate a private accommodation business in a professional fashion. 4 Laki majoitus ja ravitsemistoiminnasta (28.4.2006/308).
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