Welcoming MPC’s New Guidelines on Short-Term Accommodation

• Airbnb has welcomed new guidelines for short-term accommodation which would help tourism recover faster and stronger
• The new guidelines would streamline and simplify registration, making it easier for locals, particularly senior citizens and locals in the B40 group, to become hosts

Airbnb has today welcomed the Malaysia Productivity Corporation’s new guidelines for short-term accommodation which would help accelerate tourism’s recovery and create more local jobs in Malaysia.

Following extensive public consultation, the Malaysia Productivity Corporation has released new best-practice guidelines for regulating short-term accommodation in Malaysia. The new guidelines would streamline and simplify registration making it easier for locals, particularly senior citizens and locals in the B40 group, to become hosts.

The Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC), as well as the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), recognised the crucial role short-term accommodation plays in growing Malaysian tourism and creating local jobs.

“We broadly welcome these new guidelines which take us one step closer to having clear, sensible rules for short-term accommodation across Malaysia,” said Mich Goh, Head of Public Policy (Southeast Asia), Airbnb. “While we know each local area is different, the new guidelines give governments a way to simultaneously grow tourism and ensure compliance. The guidelines are a useful reference point for policymakers considering how best to regulate short-term accommodation at the local level. For some governments, reforming short-term accommodation rules may act as a form of regulatory stimulus and help tourism recover faster and stronger.”

“Together with hoteliers, airlines, travel agents and other short-term rental platforms, Airbnb and the community of Airbnb hosts are very much a part of Malaysia’s tourism industry which is currently facing unprecedented challenges.  We are committed to continue being a good partner to the Malaysian government and want to work collaboratively to ensure the long-term, sustainable growth of short-term accommodation as well as the recovery of the local tourism industry,” Goh added.

Airbnb’s host and guest community generated over RM3 billion in direct economic impact to Malaysia in 2019, with senior hosts who are above 60 earning RM9 million in 2018.