AirBnB another example of a crooked playing field – MANZ

AirBnB another example of a crooked playing field – MANZ

The arrival of AirBnB in New Zealand is another example of a crooked playing field in which unregulated and untaxed accommodation providers are threatening our tourism industry, says the Motel Association of New Zealand (MANZ).

Commercial accommodation is required to be built to a certain standard to ensure the safety of the travelling public and allowing the proliferation of an unregulated providers endangers the whole tourism sector, MANZ Chief Executive Michael Baines says.

“Every tourist within New Zealand needs a place to stay. All it would take would be one or two disasters as a result of these cowboy accommodation providers and our reputation as a safe, high quality tourism destination will be in jeopardy,” Mr Baines says.

“As an industry we welcome competition. It keeps us sharp and ensures that we provide a quality product which meets the market demand.”

“But we assume that all those competing against us are playing by the same rules. If, and when, AirBnB properties are complying by the same rules and costs as the commercial properties, then bring it on,” Mr Baines says.

With AirBnB joining the range of other online home booking systems and bed and breakfasts this problem of the uneven playing field needs to be addressed.

“The worst case scenario is that we start to see legitimate accommodation providers forced out of business by the likes of AirBnB properties which pay no tax and have no compliance costs.”

“If this happens then we will see severe damage to our tourism sector – damage that may not easily be undone,” Mr Baines says.

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