The Secretariat of Tourism of Quintana Roo gave Airbnb representatives a proposal for regulation that includes space and time limits for the operation of vacation rentals in the tourist cities of the state.
From the outset, they could operate only in certain downtown areas of Cancun or Playa del Carmen, and no later than 180 days a year; the agency is waiting for the comments and the counterproposal made by the company to these approaches.
Marisol Vanegas Pérez, State Secretary of Tourism, said that the proposed regulation contemplates these two aspects; that is to say, to delimit the perimeter in which the operation of the vacation rentals will be allowed and the definition of the seasons in which they will be able to work throughout the year, which will not be able to exceed 180 days.
The first regulation has to do with the fact that many tourists return very late to their accommodation sites, and this necessarily implies that there must be proper security and transport conditions in the areas where they choose to stay.
Currently, said Vanegas Perez, there are “many” options for vacation rentals in areas of Cancun where the safety of tourists is not guaranteed; “Based on this criteria, we will define where and when the platform will not be able to operate.”
The second regulation has to do with the fact that Airbnb assumes that its business scheme is based on a collaborative economy to complement the family income, “but the truth is that this is not the case,” said the official.
For those who have a house that they rent, it could work as a complementary income, but in Cancun there are not only buildings, but entire neighborhoods that are rented to tourists. This has caused the owners of some of these properties to evict the families that have lived there for years, in order to rent the properties through Airbnb.
Vanegas Pérez added that a specific case of this phenomenon is Colonia Donceles 28 in Cancún, where 70% of the total housing space is dedicated to this new business scheme.
“The concept of community disappears; the phenomenon is called gentrification, which has generated conflicts in other big cities in other parts of the world, “she said.
“We want to avoid this type of conflict, establishing not only the parameters of action, but the number of days of operation. This is not an exclusive proposal of Quintana Roo, it works in other parts of the world, “she added.
Sanctions
The official explained that in case of violation of the operation limits, a fine or sanction would apply directly to the platform, because it would openly be overflowing its “collaborative economy” business scheme.
Additionally, Airbnb hosts will be required to process operating licenses, Civil Protection permits and payment of municipal services as commercial property, only in the case of those properties that are fully rented in the Airbnb modality. Those who offer space within their own house for rent would be exempt, but under the original concept of being a face-to-face host of a tourist with whom they share their home on a temporary basis.
TYT Newsroom with information from eleconomista.com.mx
