Hotels Association advocates swift regulation of Airbnb to level playing field

By Juliet ETEFE ([email protected])                                                         

The Ghana Hotels Association (GHA) has called on the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and relevant stakeholders to expedite efforts to regulate Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms operating in the country.

They argued that the unregulated nature of such services creates an uneven playing field for traditional hotel operators.

Speaking at a press briefing to launch the Association’s 50th anniversary, president of the GHA, Dr. Edward Ackah-Nyamike Jnr., expressed concern that while hotels comply with stringent regulatory and tax obligations, Airbnb hosts operate largely outside the established regulatory framework.

Beyond the Ghana Tourism Authority (primary regulator), GHA also has bodies like the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency…