The 2019 Ice-Hockey World Championship takes place in Bratislava and Košice from May 10 to May 26, 2019. (source: TASR)
"I got a call from the police, asking me for a meeting," said Tomáš Hudák from Košice, who rents out a flat on Airbnb, as quoted by the Sme daily.
The police wanted to give him a registration form for the short-term stay for people who will rent Hudák's flat during the upcoming Ice Hockey World Championship in May. He was given 24 hours to report the names to the police, Sme wrote.
He is not the only one. The police have recently sent e-mails to several accommodation providers, including Airbnb renters, both in Bratislava and Košice.
No explanations provided
"Focus on information regarding how many reservations you have received from Russia, Norway, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Latvia and Austria," the bulk e-mail reads, as quoted by Sme.
The police have addressed different hotels, hostels and Airbnb renters to learn the number of foreign ice-hockey fans who have booked accommodation.
"It is one of several security measures," said Lucia Mihalíková, a spokesperson for Bratislava's regional police department, as quoted by Sme.
More police patrols will be monitoring the situation during the championship in different locations around Bratislava and Košice, including hotels.
However, the police failed to explain why accommodation providers must respond to the e-mail within 24 hours. In addition, they did not say how they obtained the e-mail addresses of private renters on Airbnb, Sme wrote.
Providers must report on foreigners
Accommodation facilities are obliged by law to inform the Foreigners' Police on the temporary stays of tourists and other foreign visitors to Slovakia.
However, providers usually ask them to fill in the registration forms on the day of arrival.
Subsequently, hotels and other renters must submit the information obtained within five days from when a foreign guest checks in, as reported by Sme.
