‘Excessive’

By Sashana Small

‘Excessive’

Airbnb operators in Jamaica are warning that a proposed law requiring licensing and regulation of short-term rental (STR) accommodations by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) could cripple the industry and drive small, local hosts out of business.

The bill, now stalled in Parliament after Tuesday’s suspension of debate, would mandate that STR operators register and be licensed by the JTB or face fines up to $2 million, a year in prison, or both. Many operators and industry advocates say the proposed penalties are excessive and risk pushing independent Jamaican hosts out of the market in favoor of large hotel interests.

Sherie-Ann Anderson, community leader for Airbnb Jamaica and a board member of the Jamaica Home Sharing Association, said the bill risks pushing many local hosts out of the market.

“Many hosts are ordinary Jamaicans, retirees, single parents, entrepreneurs who rely on STR income to pay mortgages, children, support the local economy and build local businesses,” she told The Gleaner yesterday.

“Any regulatory approach must come with fairness, transparency, and support for compliance, especially for small, independent hosts who are contributing meaningfully to community-based tourism,” said Anderson.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has defended the bill, saying it seeks to modernise the tourism sector and ensure safety and consistency across accommodation types. The ministry later clarified that homestays (1–9 rooms occupied by owners) and apartments where short-term rentals are banned by strata rules must register but won’t need full licensing.

Still, Opposition Leader Mark Golding criticised the bill for what he called exorbitant fines and a lack of consultation with STR stakeholders.

Some hosts believe that the real motivation is to curb competition with traditional hotels. A Kingston-based Airbnb operator, who asked not to be identified by The Gleaner, said: “The motivation is that the hoteliers, who have invested their large amount of capitals in these hotels, they are now feeling the competition from the Airbnb, and one way to push back is to legislate and reduce the number of Airbnbs in the market so that people will go to their hotels.”

While he acknowledged potential benefits to standardising the sector, the operator questioned what real value licensing offered to hosts.

“It would be useful if we are licensed and somebody damage your property you have means of remediation, or if you’re licensed you’re entitled to some loan facility from a government agency, or the Government may have a special rate that they offer licensed Airbnb operators to ensure their property meets a certain standard,” he suggested.

The property owner also argued that implementation and enforcement of the law would be a costly endeavour for the Government.

“You’re going to have to audit these places. How are you going to give a licence if you don’t audit?” he asked.

Another host in St Ann was more blunt, calling the proposal “borderline rude” and an attempt by the Government to interfere in private enterprise.

“How ya go regulate somebody private home weh dem a collect money from? Dat mek sense?” he asked, stressing that Airbnb was an American-based company that was not subjected to Jamaican laws.

“Dem wah get dem hand inna people money, and dis a people private property weh dem lease out, why yuh wah get yuh hand inna people money? It’s a service fi mek people mek dem money without fear of taxes. It’s a quick-money app. Why are you now trying to implement policies to regulate it?” the operator said.

Anderson noted that Jamaica has over 10,000 active Airbnb listings, mostly run by locals managing just one or two properties. She urged the Government to consult more widely with hosts and revise the penalty structure to be fair and enforceable.

“Licensing, if it is to be implemented, must be rolled out with clarity, affordability, and accessibility, not as a top-down mandate. This requires open dialogue, detailed planning, and real understanding of how the short-term rental ecosystem works on the ground in Jamaica,” she said.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com

Read More…