THE Malaysia Budget & Business Hotel Associations (MyBHA) has applauded the move by the Penang State Government to introduce a mechanism to regulate the short-term rental accommodation (STRA) which will directly help to restore the state’s hotel and tourism industry.

In so doing, MyBHA expressed disagreement with the claim by Airbnb’s public policy had (Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan) Mich Goh that the new regulations could affect the recovery of the tourism Industry as well as the state’s economy by making it difficult for Malaysians to generate income.

“We do refute the claim as we know an accommodation through STRA is a business that does not have laws to regulate the business and an unlicensed business is an illegal business,” MyBHA’s national president Dr Sri Ganesh Michiel pointed out in a media statement.

“We request them not to mislead any party for the benefit and survival of an unregulated or unlicensed business.”

Prising the action of the Penang State Government, Ganesh said it will in fact increase the Government’s taxable income and hotel fees that have been introduced by state government.

“Enacting a law to regulate STRA and protect the tourism and hotel industry will not make the state look less attractive but will show that our country has rules and laws to protect all parties from consumers or tourists to hoteliers including local travel agencies,” he argued.

“Therefore, we also want to call on all state governments to take the initiative to regulate STRA) in their respective states.”

According to Ganesh, reasonable income and profits will help hoteliers to provide good hospitality and tourism services as well as assist the Government to collect higher taxes that can be used to improve the image of Malaysia’s tourism industry.

“We describe this matter as a form of a new norm technology colonization of the hotel and tourism industry and the enactment of a law in regulating STRA will provide a fair business concept and can ensure that the hotel industry is not colonised using technology without enforcement or regulations from the Government that all legitimate businesses need to have a law capable of regulating the business.,” noted Ganesh.

“’All parties should support a business that is licensed and bound by law and not support any unlicensed or illegal business that will tarnish the image of the hotel and tourism Industry.” – Aug 10, 2022