The government is scrapping a controversial measure that would have required Airbnb apartment owners to get approval from their condominium neighbours before renting out their properties, Tourism Minister Ian Borg has confirmed.Speaking on Times of Malta’s podcast, Borg said the rule was unfair, especially since the government had encouraged people to invest in short-term rentals.However, he made it clear that new regulations will be introduced to address noise, waste management, and neighbourly respect.Concerns among Airbnb owners first emerged when Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) CEO Carlo Micallef revealed plans to require neighbour approval for short-term rentals.The proposal aimed to address complaints about excessive noise, littering, and frequent guest turnover, but the government has now abandoned the idea.“That said, just because landlords live elsewhere and aren’t affected by their guests’ nuisance, it doesn’t mean they can allow them to come home at 3am and continue their party in the apartment while a family next door, who also invested in their property, can’t live in peace,” Borg said.He also warned illegal short-let operators to regularise their position immediately, as Airbnb and other platforms are now required to share data with the authorities.During the interview, which is set to be released on Thursday, Borg raised concerns about hotel development incentives and hinted at a possible shift in policy, questioning whether the government should continue encouraging hotel investments given the number of apartments already on the market.What do you make of this development? •