Likely boon coming for Japan’s home sharing sector

tokyo-apartments

THE Japanese government has proposed sweeping changes to laws governing tourist accommodations that has the home sharing sector particularly upbeat.

Deregulation of Japan’s hotel sector has been a priority for the government, largely due to the surging number of foreign visitors and the shortage of accommodations, particularly in popular urban destinations.

A panel on deregulation had earlier proposed allowing private citizens to take in fee-paying lodgers for up to 180 days a year without requiring a hotel operator licence.

Known as minpaku in Japanese, the practice is generally illegal in Japan, but the advent of businesses such as Airbnb are challenging such laws.

“We welcome that Japan has made great progress in policy discussion on home sharing,” a spokesman for Airbnb Japan told TTG Asia e-Daily.

“Since the details of such rules are still under discussion, I don’t want to speculate. But we look forward to working closely with the Japanese government so more local residents can welcome guests from around the world into their homes.”

Japan’s move is in part motivated by its desire to ensure it receives tax from property owners, while also hoping to ease room shortages in the lead up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

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