Airbnb forced to cancel Japanese bookings
As Japan’s new homesharing law comes into effect in just a few days, Airbnb has been busy making sure all hosts who can’t or won’t comply with strict new rules are blocked from the platform.
Airbnb’s Asia-Pacific spokesman Jake Wilczynski refused to disclose exactly how many have been temporarily suspended from accepting bookings, but sources say it is about 80% of all listings.
All homeowners wishing to rent out are required to apply for a government registration number.
Hosts can only rent out for stays totalling 180 days a year and additional rules have been added by local governments.
Some of these have been decried as way too strict and only enacted in order to give the traditional hotel industry an advantage.
Kyoto for example only allows rentals from mid-January to mid-March in residential areas, which is during the low season.
"We reached out to those hosts who have not yet obtained their notification number to let them know that they will need this to accept any new bookings. We have informed those hosts that we are in the process of turning off future listing capabilities," Wilczynsk told AFP.
The company has set up a $10 million fund to compensate travellers who had made booking at homes which are now deemed in violation of the new law.
It said the new rules ‘stink’.
"This is understandably frustrating, especially since many hosts are close to acquiring their licence. It’s particularly disruptive for guests who have a trip to Japan planned for the weeks and months ahead," it said in a statement.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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