KUALA LUMPUR: Online hospitality booking platform Airbnb says it welcomes any move by the government to regulate its business.“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.
Tourism Minister Mohamaddin Ketapi had said that unlicensed hotels and Airbnb must register immediately with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry. “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.Asked how the company arrived at the figure, he said it was based on an internal survey among 2,000 hosts and guests.
Much of Airbnb’s growth in Malaysia is thanks to travellers seeking more local, unique and authentic experience.