Airbnb services will benefit all, says Satta
KOTA KINABALU: Allowing owners of empty units in condominiums and apartments within the city area to operate hotel-like services will not only address the shortage of accommodations faced by the local tourism players but will also create a win-win situation for everybody, said Sabah Association of Tourism and Travel Agents (Satta).
However, these owners must operate through a company duly registered with the relevant authorities to protect the interest and welfare of the guests and other tenants in their respective areas, said its chairman, Datuk Seri Winston Liaw when commenting on the City Hall plans to come up with the regulations and guidelines for Airbnb within this year.
He said it would be proper and logical for the local authorities to allow such operations as amongst the measures to address the shortage of rooms in the local tourism industry and increase in revenues both for LGUs ( local government units) and the unit owners to name a few.
Liaw said the setting up of a management company for unit owners to provide ‘homestaylike’ services in condominiums and apartment properties would mean additional collection of government/tourism taxes (sixunits above) .
“This measure will also mean revenues to unit owners apart from encouraging both local and foreign individuals and companies to invest condominium and apartment properties here in the near future especially the empty units,” he stressed.
Liaw said he also strongly believed that the move would help build confidence on the part of financial institutions to provide bank loans to new buyers of condomimium and apartment units.
“We are also creating a healthy situation whereby the local developers will have more confidence to venture into condominium and apartment projects in the future,” he explained.
He said he planned to meet with the relevant local authorities soon to explain and submit the official proposal or suggestion.
“I will personally visit the authorities concerned to explain to them the rationale behind our proposal or suggestion which will create a win-win situation for everybody,” he said.