Hotel group seeks rules on Airbnb
The Thai Hotels Association (THA) has requested a meeting with the Minister of Interior Gen Anuphong Phaochinda, on the impact of short-term rental and home sharing services, also commonly known as Airbnb, on domestic hotel business nationwide, said president Supawan Tanomkieatipume.
“THA has no intention to seek a ban on these services in Thailand,” she said, adding “We just want the government to issue suitable regulations on the operations of these service providers, as well as enforce related laws and quality control measures to protect customers.”
Supawan suggested that providers of short-term rental and home sharing services should be required to register with tourism-related agencies under the Ministry of Interior. They should apply for a business licence, the same requirement for hotel entrepreneurs, before commencing operation. Furthermore, these providers should display their licence numbers when advertising their services via regular and online media.
THA also wants the ministry to include short-term rental and home sharing services in the total number of hotel entrepreneurs in Thailand, so that the government can design suitable measures to promote hotel business based on the actual number of entrepreneurs in the market.
“A preliminary survey by THA revealed that there are over 21,000 providers of accommodations not listed as hotel entrepreneurs scattered around Bangkok and tourist cities. Without knowing the actual number of competitors, hotel entrepreneurs face the risk of room oversupply," she said.
Statistics published by Airbnb earlier this year revealed that home sharing business in Thailand had generated more than Bt33.8 billion to property owners as well as local communities where the accommodations are located.