Turismo
TOPHOTELPROJECTS: Africa Gets to Grips with the Effects of Airbnb
(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/618562/Airbnb_Africa.jpg )
So what are the downsides to this kind of tourism in
Africa ? Well, they are not so different to the problems that have surfaced in other areas when Airbnb comes to town. On the one hand, on a continent where employment opportunities are sometimes hard to come by, the extra income afforded by renting a room on Airbnb is a welcome bonus for homeowners and tenants. But this has the effect of pushing up house prices and rents in areas that are popular tourist destinations. And then, of course, there is the effect on the hotel industry in general. Many young travelers won't even consider a hotel if there are Airbnbs on offer, and this leaves hoteliers and developers in the lurch in a time when their investment on the continent was seen to be a sure thing given the growth of tourism in recent years. They are unhappy with the new competition, who they feel are not playing by the rules.
There are also certain grey areas in Airbnb's operation that are not going down well with authorities. While it is not illegal to rent a room on the sharing site, entire houses or blocks of apartments cannot be listed, and the presence of illegal listings in desirable, beachside locations is resulting in raids and crackdowns by local forces. Tourism boards do not like unregulated properties, and it remains to be seen how far this stand off between Airbnb rentals and local enforcement officials will go.
Related projects
The following hotel projects are currently underway in
Africa :
The government of Zimbabwe plans to set up a world class theme park in
Victoria Falls [READ MORE]
A new Hilton Garden Inn in Lusaka, Zambia [READ MORE]
Hotel Verde Zanzibar will showcase the integration of 5 star luxury and environmental best practice [READ MORE]
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