Tourism examines Airbnb impact
‘MASSIVE recent growth’ in the use of sites such as Airbnb has left VisitGuernsey wanting to better understand the market and any impact it could have on established providers.
It has put out a message reminding homeowners that they must obtain an annual boarding permit before they can accommodate paying visitors in the island.
Quality development manager Peter Perrio said this reminder had been prompted by the increase in peer-to-peer accommodation sites over the past 12 months.
‘The thing that has changed is the massive growth in the use of sites such as Airbnb,’ he said.
‘It became apparent this year that quite a number of people in Guernsey were now using these websites.
‘The majority are commercial providers, holiday homes and self-catering apartments that were already operating and are just using it to advertise.
‘Of the 88 properties on Airbnb, 15 are on Alderney and Sark, which do not come under our tourism laws, and only 20-odd are people letting out their own private properties in Guernsey.’
See the Guernsey Press for full story
