# summary

- Link: https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/tourism-amendment-bill/summary/
- Published: 2019-04-27T15:37:46+02:00
- Author: dearSA

[ HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE TOURISM BILL](https://dearsouthafrica.co.za/tourism-amendment-bill/)

## SUMMARY

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### ISSUES AFFECTING GUESTS

 1.  We fear that Airbnb daily rates will be driven up artificially to align with hotels
     which we cannot afford.
 2.  We prefer to stay in less trafficked areas where hotels are not concentrated.
 3.  We choose not to stay in hotels since they are impersonal.
 4.  We prefer the experience of living like locals when we travel.
 5.  We prefer the support of a host when we travel. For example, she would take us
     to her local doctor if need be.
 6.  We enjoy the individuality of Airbnb accommodation and the local knowledge shared
     by hosts.
 7.  We enjoy the standard of accommodation provided by Airbnb hosts since their competition
     demands that this is upheld.
 8.  We enjoy repeat business trips and family visits at our favourite Airbnb accommodation
     and don’t want to be told that the host has reached her ‘threshold’ and we must
     find somewhere else to stay.
 9.  We also don’t want to be told that we can only stay for less than 30 days, and
     not longer than 3 months. This is catastrophic for students, interns and business
     travellers. Also longer family visits from abroad.
 10. We are concerned about the devoted, most often breadwinner employees who will 
     lose their work if Airbnb is curtailed. What provision will the government make
     to employ them?
 11. This bill will control our freedom of choice and we will need to consider taking
     holidays, studying or doing business further afield.
 12. Visas, insufficient direct flights, security and load shedding issues already 
     discourage us.

### ISSUES AFFECTING HOSTS

Restricting Airbnb hosts to only be permitted a maximum booking period of 3 months(
or less) per year, will have dire consequences for them all:

 1.   Many retired persons cannot survive on their pensions, therefore rent out rooms
     or a portion of their property to meet soaring costs.
 2.  Many ladies in the underserved communities, rent out rooms in their homes to afford
     schooling and food for their children.
 3.   Many hosts with disabilities who cannot work in the formal sector, offer their
     knowledge, time and accommodation to support their costs.
 4.  Many single parents require the additional income to provide education for their
     children, and maintain their home.
 5.  Many local businesses flourish through the additional requirements that guests
     bring.
 6.  All these Airbnb properties employ staff who are most often breadwinners. Thousands
     of loyal helpers will become unemployed.
 7.  The massive boost to the economy which Airbnb has brought will be lost for no 
     gain whatsoever.
 8.  Guests who can’t afford hotels and dislike them, will choose other countries to
     visit.
 9.  Airbnb hosts pay tax and VAT on every booking and service fee to the government.
     This will also be lost.
 10. Rezoning in order to continue is laborious, another cost to the government and
     unnecessary.
 11. Hosts have installed water management equipment to keep in line, or below the 
     average household water allocation. We proved it in Cape Town!
 12. Restricting guests from staying longer than 30 days is disastrous for students,
     interns, travellers working on contract and longer family visits.
 13. South Africa needs tourism desperately to float a failing economy, why limit Airbnb’s
     contribution to that? It is a destructive step to take.
 14. Airbnb properties are self regulated by the platform review system. Those that
     are not up to standard do not remain open.
 15. Government does not need to regulate what is already regulated, they need to focus
     on more critical matters of which there are countless.