KUALA LUMPUR: Airbnb has introduced its Responsible Hosting in Buildings guide for short-term rental accommodations (STRA) in strata buildings, anticipating a rise in demand for such properties.
Its head of public policy for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, Mich Goh, highlighted that the renewed interest in travel among domestic and foreign tourists places STRA in a prominent position to propel tourism growth and draw a diverse range of visitors to Malaysia.
A recent Oxford Economics study revealed that Airbnb guests spent about RM7 billion in Malaysia in 2022, benefiting various industry sectors such as restaurants, retail, and transportation.
Furthermore, Airbnb's activities contributed over RM5 billion to Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) and supported nearly 57,000 jobs, accounting for around 4.9 per cent of the tourism industry's GDP contribution in 2022.
Goh emphasised the company's ongoing dedication to fostering safer and more responsible travel within strata buildings.
"At Airbnb, we believe the neighbourhoods and communities in which we operate are as important as the hosts and guests who use our service," she said in a statement.
The guide offers strata hosts, property managers, joint management bodies (JMB), management corporations (MC), and strata developers a comprehensive toolkit to manage short-term rentals responsibly in apartment buildings and condominiums.
It includes Airbnb's recommended Code of Conduct for STRA, detailing the responsibilities and courtesies expected of hosts and guests, and resources for reporting urgent concerns about nearby listings.
The guide aims to provide condominiums and apartment buildings with practical suggestions to streamline their STRA management.