‘More than 40 Airbnb businesses not licensed’

Acquiring a license is a hassle for many Airbnb operators around the country. This has forced more than 300 Airbnb businesses operating with a proper license.

Only 44 Airbnb businesses were licensed, says the owner of Colonial Lodge in Levuka, Suzie Yee Shaw.

She was part of the Airbnb business owner’s webinar held yesterday.

The webinar which was facilitated by the Ministry of Tourism and International Finance Corporation would help the Government draw up a Sustainable Tourism Framework.

Ms Shaw said the Government needed to ensure the acquiring of licenses were made easy for businesses while drawing up the Framework.

She said many Airbnb owners had to deal with many regulatory agencies in order to get their business registered.

There was no clear guidance set out, Ms Shaw said.

“There are a number of legislation in place that act as a barrier for many people who want to set up Airbnb businesses in Fiji,” she said.

“Also, a number of paperwork we needed to fill and meetings we needed to attend until we are able to register or license the business.

“Then after setting up their businesses there was a need to ensure there was occupational health and safety in place. The relevant authorities take their time on this also,” she said.

Owner of Mana bnb, Mue Bentley-Fisher said they had to run to different departments to set up their business.

It caused a lot of stress, she said.

“There is a need for an organisation to set up or a department set up within the ministry whereby businesses could go to one place and get things done,” Ms Bentley-Fisher said.

She said Fiji could benefit a lot from Airbnb. “This is in terms of revenue and address the problem of shortage of rooms due to an increase in demand,” she said.

“It was an area the Government needed to look into if they wanted the tourism sector to grow.”

Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association Glen Vaivaitamana said no premises should be used as a hotel unless the manager holds a licence in respect of the premises.

This was according to Fiji’s Hotel and Guest Houses Act 1973 section four, he said.

“So discussions are moot until the relevant law is amended,” Mr Vaivaitamana said. “Once payment for service has been moved from consumer to vendor, it becomes a ‘business’ business.”

He said there was a need for regulation to be set in place for micro and macro businesses to ensure the tourism sector was safeguarded against challenges or negative concerns.