Kuala Lumpur:Airbnb has called for the government to implement clear and fair National Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) Guidelines as a part of its policy recommendations prior to the presentation of Budget 2027 on October 9.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Shanta Arul, Airbnb's Southeast Asia head of Public Policy, emphasized the importance of setting national standards that are easy for small businesses and individual hosts to follow, while allowing local authorities to enforce them effectively. She noted that home sharing has the potential to empower communities through tourism, particularly benefiting women, youth, and micro-entrepreneurs. Airbnb suggests this could be achieved by expanding existing grant and financing programs.
Airbnb highlighted the possibility of expanding programs like the Malaysia Travel Incentive Grant (GAMELAN) and TEKUN Nasional to support digital literacy, safety, sustainable hosting, and entrepreneurship. Strengthening domestic tourism is another proposal, focusing on encouraging visits to secondary cities and rural destinations through targeted marketing and partnerships.
In 2025, Malaysia recorded 290.1 million domestic visitors, with tourism expenditure increasing by 13.6% to RM121.3 billion, as per the Department of Statistics Malaysia. Home sharing, Airbnb contends, fulfills accommodation needs for tourism and events, while providing additional income opportunities.
Airbnb has previously supported events like the 2026 Selangor Malaysia Games (SUKMA) and Para SUKMA by offering accommodation and collaborated with the National Cancer Society Malaysia for patient and caregiver lodging. The company also advocates for a review of the Tourism Industry Act (TIA) 1992 to ensure a level playing field, encourage innovation, and enhance consumer protection.
Shanta Arul stated that a modern regulatory framework would boost industry competitiveness and reinforce Malaysia's status as a top tourism destination. An economic impact analysis indicated that Airbnb-related activities contributed approximately RM8.3 billion to Malaysia's GDP in 2025, supported around 108,300 jobs, and generated nearly RM3.0 billion in labor income. Airbnb is ready to collaborate with the government and Tourism Malaysia to promote lesser-known destinations and foster sustainable tourism growth.