KUALA LUMPUR: Online hospitality booking platform Airbnb says it welcomes any move by the government to regulate its business.
The company said it is currently in discussion with the tourism ministry and other agencies.
“We welcome any efforts to regulate and list us, as we are a legal company,” Mike Orgill, Airbnb’s general manager for Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, told a press conference today.
Orgill however did not respond to a question whether the company has been paying taxes to the government, or if taxes are paid by its guests.
Tourism Minister Mohamaddin Ketapi had said that unlicensed hotels and Airbnb must register immediately with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.
Early this year, Airbnb said it was considering the implementation of Voluntary Collection Agreements (VCAs) to enable it to collect and remit tourist tax on behalf of its hosts and guests in Malaysia.
“In Malaysia, the company has had meaningful conversations with authorities including the Ministry of Finance, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and Ministry of Tourism and Culture to discuss the implementation of VCAs,” said Mich Goh, who is in charge of Airbnb public policy for Southeast Asia.
Meanwhile, Orgill claimed that Airbnb contributed RM3 billion to the Malaysian economy last year.
Asked how the company arrived at the figure, he said it was based on an internal survey among 2,000 hosts and guests.
“Half of all Airbnb hosts say hosting helped them afford their homes, and 40% say it provides them supplementary income using our platform,” said Orgill.
He said more than 3.25 million guests signed up with the service July 2018 and July 2019.
“There are now over 53,000 listings in Malaysia on Airbnb and it remains the fastest growing country in Southeast Asia for the second year running,” said Orgill.
Much of Airbnb’s growth in Malaysia is thanks to travellers seeking more local, unique and authentic experience.
He added among the fastest growth places in Malaysia are Sibu (290%), Semporna (290%), Alor Setar(214%) and Tanjung Tokong (177%).
In 2018, Orgill said senior citizens aged 60 years old and above “earned almost RM9 billion hosting approximately 50,000 guest on Airbnb”. - FMT
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