Tourism council calls for Airbnb regulation
The government must regulate travel rental site Airbnb in SA as it is threatening the viability of conventional lodging providers such as hotels and could lead to job losses, the Tourism Business Council of SA (TBCSA) said. Within 10 years, Airbnb — a privately held company established in San Francisco in the US — has rapidly expanded globally, posing a threat to conventional lodging providers. It can be accessed through either its websites or mobile applications. Airbnb, which gives travellers affordable accommodation options, has come under scrutiny in other parts of the world, with several countries introducing stricter regulations for the company. Japan introduced private lodging regulations in June that affected Airbnb. Major cities such as Chicago, New York in the US, and Barcelona in Spain, have also introduced regulations that tighten the leash on Airbnb. TBCSA’s recently elected chair, Blacky Komani, said on Friday the local industry is not opposed to Airbnb, but seeks the ...
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