More and more vacationers are choosing to stay in homes operated by digital platforms instead of resorts, often due to the cheaper rates they offer.
Mexico City, Los Cabos and Cancun have become the main markets for this sector. In Los Cabos alone, it is estimated that this market generates around one billion dollars a year, according to data from Francisco Madrid Flores, director of the Center for Research and Tourism Competitiveness (Cicotur) at the Universidad Anáhuac.
“Los Cabos is the tourist destination that sells the most through these platforms. I would estimate that it must be around one billion dollars. It is not only the competition in price, but there are also a series of irregularities and risks for the tourist. It is not uncommon for fatal accidents to occur, for crimes to be committed in these places.”
For Cicotur, the offer of rental houses through digital platforms represents a competitive disadvantage for hotels. They also point out that many of these properties do not have the necessary regulations, which puts the safety of tourists at risk.
“We have studied the issue, we think it is an area of uneven competition. Innovation in the hotel industry is normal, but it cannot be at the cost of destroying the productive apparatus. Unfortunately, we do not have sufficient, strong regulations that guarantee fair competition. They are welcome, but they cannot open an offer in 30 minutes; to build a hotel it takes two years of permits and licenses.”
Tourist destinations such as Mexico City are seeking to reform the Tourism Law to regulate rental platforms such as Airbnb and control property owners, following the example of New York.
Source: tribunademexico
