KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 — Airbnb has recommended that short-term rental accommodation (STRA) be allowed by default in all strata buildings under the national STRA guidelines.

The STRA platform said residents in stratified buildings should be able to collectively decide with a 75 per cent vote via their joint management body (JMB) or management corporation on any conditions or permissions regarding the STRA.

They also proposed that a national-level online registration portal for STRA operators be introduced so that the authorities will have data and statistics of STRA activities in the country for effective policy making.

"The creation of an exclusion register for STRA operators and guests who do not comply with an industry-wide Code of Conduct would significantly help reduce noise and nuisance related issues,” Airbnb said in a statement issued today.

Airbnb had shared industry input and its global best practices with PLANMalaysia to work on the national STRA guidelines.

PLANMalaysia began developing the national STRA guidelines earlier this year to establish a uniform approach to managing STRA across the country.

According to PLANMalaysia director-general Alias Rameli, short-term rental activities in Malaysia are under the purview of the Ministry of Local Government Development (KPKT) and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac).

PLANMalaysia started formulating the STRA planning guidelines as a uniform reference for all parties involved in the STRA ecosystem since January this year.

PLANMalaysia has conducted a series of engagements with stakeholders including federal government agencies, state and local authorities, online travel platforms, hoteliers, and host associations.

It had conducted online surveys from May to June this year and had also organised two focus group discussions.

To obtain the views of the public, industry stakeholders, and building owners, an online survey was also conducted from May to June 2023. PLANMalaysia also organised two focus group discussions.

"We completed the Unified Public Consultation (UPC) for the draft guidelines in September this year, and we are eager to present them to the relevant authorities later this year,” Alias said.

Airbnb Head of Public Policy for South-east Asia, India, Hong Kong & Taiwan Mich Goh said Airbnb worked with PLANMalaysia to provide feedback during the industry consultation for national guidelines for STRA.

"If approved, these guidelines are set to be the first of its kind in South-east Asia, demonstrating Malaysia’s dynamism in embracing technology and innovation in tourism.

"According to a recent Oxford Economics report, Airbnb contributed over RM5 billion to Malaysian GDP and supported almost 57,000 jobs in 2022 alone,” she added.

The Asia Travel Technology Industry Association (ATTIA), which represents travel and tourism technology companies in the Asia Pacific, also welcomed the Malaysian government’s move to develop national guidelines for STRA.

"STRA has become an integral part of Malaysia’s tourism landscape, attracting different types of travellers such as digital nomads and catering to their diverse needs, while spreading tourism to new destinations and boosting local business revenue,” said ATTIA managing director Chris Kerin.