Italy bans Airbnb self check-ins as Rome braces for influx of travelers fueled by Holy Year

Rome: Two travelers from Arizona speak to Fox News Digital about the four letters ‘SSSS’ that may be printed on your airline boarding pass.

Vacationers and short-term rentals using lockboxes in Italy will have to find a new way to check in after a new nationwide ban.

This new security push now requires hosts to identify guests in person instead of remote verification as a result of the rampant tourism in the country.

“At Airbnb we take security very seriously and recognize the importance of adhering to local regulations and ensuring the safety and security of all parties involved,” a spokesperson for Airbnb told Fox News Digital via email.

“That is why we support cities in their effort to boost in-person hospitality, cracking down on illegal Key Boxes in public spaces through educational campaigns and encouraging our community to prioritize in-person guest welcoming.” the spokesperson continued.

Vacationers heading to Italy will now encounter a new obstacle because Italy’s government now requires in-person check-ins when renting a property, rather than the convenience of remote check-ins. (iStock)

Self check-ins are convenient for hosts and guests to coordinate and “manage arrivals in a flexible way and adapt to occasional unexpected changes in travel plans,” the spokesperson said, adding, “They’re used all around the world and combined with our guest identity verification, they have also provided high security standards.”

Lockboxes or key boxes are typically left on doors with a code for guests to check in without the need to meet the hosts face-to-face.

Now, tourists must meet with their hosts before entering a short-term rental property, as instructed by the Italian Interior Ministry.

“The need has arisen to implement stringent measures aimed at preventing risks to public order and safety in relation to the possible housing of dangerous persons and/or persons linked to criminal or terrorist organizations,” Vittorio Pisani, Italy’s police chief, said, according to Barron’s.

The use of lockboxes or key boxes is now no longer permitted, since guests can no longer check into a home without first meeting the host in person in order for the correct parties to be identified. (iStock)

The timeliness of the self check-in ban is partially due to a series of important events in the upcoming months that will bring more tourists to Rome, including the 2025 Jubilee, also known as the Holy Year for the Catholic Church.

The sacred event begins on Dec. 24 when Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

In 2023, there were 36 million tourists visiting the Lazio region, where Rome is located, according to the Roma Capitale annual statics report.

“The need to implement stringent measures aimed at preventing risks to public order and safety in relation to the possible accommodation of dangerous people and/or people linked to criminal or terrorist organizations emerges,” the Department of Public Security stated in a circular published online, via translation.

“To this end, it is considered appropriate to fully examine and provide clarifications regarding the critical issues connected to the established procedure of ‘remote identification’ of guests of short-term accommodation facilities through electronic transmission of copies of documents and access to accommodation with an automated opening code, or through the installation of key boxes at the entrance.”