The growth of the Airbnb sector has disrupted the traditional accommodation industry.

Fast becoming the first choice of accommodation for travellers, the sector is opposing the Tourism Amendment Bill which could give tourism minister Patricia de Lille more power to determine the “thresholds” regarding short-term home rentals listed on Airbnb and other home-sharing apps.

The introduction of the Bill in 2019 was sparked by concerns raised by the hotel industry about Airbnb’s unregulated lower rates posing a threat.

Airbnb hosts do not need licences to operate nor do they pay taxes like other hospitality businesses.

The platform is cheaper to operate, unlike traditional accommodation providers who have higher operating costs because of taxes and other government requirements they have to comply with.

Airbnb’s regional head for Middle-East Africa, Velma Corcoran, argues that the Airbnb platform can help anyone, anywhere to become a tourism entrepreneur.

“Now is the time to establish a clear set of rules for short-term rentals in South Africa that create a more inclusive, sustainable industry,” she pointed out in a written response to policymakers.

According to a report released by Airbnb, the platform proposes the introduction of a national framework for the regulation of short-term rentals that distinguishes between professional and non-professional activity; emphasising that the platform lowers the barriers to entering the tourism industry.

This has, for example, allowed Ballito host Valencia Walker to earn an extra income with no hospitality experience.

“Airbnb was a game changer that allowed me to pursue my dream for hosting,” she said.

Walker has accommodated local and international guests for the past two years and earned a ”guest favourite” tag on the platform.

According to Walker, who rents out her apartment “Ukuthula” at Princes Grant golf estate, the Airbnb Resolution Centre comes in handy when resolving guest no-shows and breakages.

A 2023 report by independent consultancy Genesis Analytics, commissioned by Airbnb, 64% of hosts are female. The platform had 63 000 listings in SA, with KZN growing by 193% from 2019 to 2022.

The report indicated that the sector contributed more than R23,5-billion to South Africa’s GDP in 2022.

For “super” Westbrook host Michele Els, the platform is as safe as it gets.

It allows only guests who have authenticated contact details and ID numbers to be accepted, which helps to protect hosts.

Els stressed the importance of setting accommodation rules to protect nearby neighbours.

But Airbnb has not found a foothold in many gated estates because of its nature. Estates such as Brettenwood have a strict policy on short-term rentals.

“‘Enforcement of rules prohibiting short-term rentals and Airbnb maintains the exclusivity of living in Brettenwood,” the Brettenwood Homeowners Association said in a statement.

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