AirBnB accreditation not a priority for now – Puyat

CEBU, Philippines — Imposing accreditation system to AirBnB operators is not yet a priority, the Department of Tourism (DOT) said.

Tourism chief Bernadette Romulo-Puyat clarified that implementing regulations or standard monitoring among AirBnB operators is not yet being prioritized, saying the industry is still very small.

Although Airbnb is a growing market, the Philippines is still new in adapting to it, and is not yet a major industry in the tourism sector, Puyat said.

The mainstream hospitality industry in the Philippines is not affected by AirBnB, in fact Puyat said this service is even encouraged as of this time as tourism continuous to grow.

Earlier, the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (PHOA) lobbied to apply an occupancy tax on Airbnb hosts because they felt Airbnb places were unfair competition for hotels.

Puyat reiterated that the priority of the department at this time is sustainable tourism.

Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) president Carlo B. Suarez recently said that Airbnb entirely has its own market niche and its entry the hospitality sector is not a threat nor it affects the hotels.

However, what is crucial for travelers to consider is their safety and security while availing of the accommodation facilities floated in the Airbnb platform.

“We hope these travelers are aware that safety, security and hygiene are compromised,” said Suarez, who is also the general manager for Grand Hotel.

Good service, provision of proper linens and professional security measures for staying guests, added Suarez.

Airbnb is an online marketplace and hospitality service, enabling people to list or rent short-term lodging including vacation rentals, apartment rentals, homestays and hostel beds. (FREEMAN)