‘Scrap Accommodation Bill’

by MARIA BRADSHAW mariabradshaw@nationnews.com

THE TOURIST ACCOMMODATION Bill must be scrapped, not paused.

So said members of the short-term accommodation sector (Airbnb/Vrbo) Barbados Host Group as they responded to the announcement by Minister of Tourism, Ian Gooding-Edghill that the Bill would be suspended to allow for further consultation and dialogue.

“We welcome the Government’s decision to put the progression of the Tourist Accommodation Bill, 2025 on hold. It is the right decision, and it reflects the outcry of thousands of Barbadians, property owners, and stakeholders who made their voices heard,” a spokesperson for the group told the DAILY NATION

yesterday. However, he insisted that the Bill “should not return in any form”.

“The Minister has claimed that consultations with stakeholders on this matter date back to 2016. That is simply not possible. The current Government was elected in May 2018. In 2016, it was the previous administration in office. If discussions took place nearly ten years ago under a different government, those cannot be claimed as the basis for this Bill today. A decade has passed, the industry has changed, and any claim that old meetings justify this Bill is disingenuous and misleading,” the spokesperson who requested anonymity stated.

Red tape

He also called on Government to “stop tinkering with tourism accommodation” as “there is no need for another layer of legislation”.

He submitted that the Tourism Levy Act, 2019-57 already provides a licensing framework for accommodation providers and captures tax revenue from shortterm rentals while the new Tourism Levy Bill, 2025 provides for the collection of VAT and levies directly from online platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com — even from those operating without licences.

“The tools are already in place. Why duplicate them with another Bill that only creates red tape, expense, and confusion?” the spokesperson asked.

Stressing that there should be “incentives not punishment” the spokesperson submitted that instead of bringing back amended legislation that only adds further regulation, Government should be bringing legislation to incentivise more Barbadians to participate in the nonhotel accommodation sector.

As a result the group is proposing:

• Land tax concessions for registered short-term rental properties

• Income tax rebates for Barbadians operating non-hotel accommodation

Bad reviews

He said these incentives would allow homeowners to reinvest in upgrades, raise standards, and expand the sector, as he pointed out that the sector was already self-regulated through platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo where they are subject to the strictest self-regulation in the industry.

“Bad reviews mean no more bookings. Good reviews bring repeat business. Hosts who fail to deliver are removed by the platform itself,” he pointed out.

He further emphasised that the short-term accommodation industry represented the changing face of the tourism industry.

“Tourism is shifting globally. Families and groups now travel for two-to-four-week stays and want homes, villas, condos, and apartments with multiple bedrooms, kitchens to prepare meals, laundry facilities for practical long stays, affordable space to stay together. If forced into hotels without these amenities, many visitors simply could not afford Barbados. They would choose other destinations.”

In terms of the benefits, he said the non-hotel accommodation sector keeps tourism dollars circulating in Barbados.

“Unlike foreignowned hotels, where profits often flow offshore, money spent in locally owned homes, villas, and apartments stays in Barbados and supports local livelihoods.”

He stated: “The pause on this Bill should not be a pause before reintroduction. It should be recognition that the Bill was fundamentally flawed and unnecessary. There is no need for another Bill. There is only a need for Government to respect and support the evolving accommodation sector that is keeping tourism vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable in Barbados.”

In suspending the Bill the Minister insisted that the short accommodations sector must be regulated and the Ministry would convene another public session to clarify any misunderstandings, answer any questions and provide further explanation of the Bill.