The Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) warned Friday that local home owners listed with American short-term rental service Airbnb Inc risk imprisonment if they fail to register with the tourism regulatory body before the end of this year.
NTB Chief Executive Officer Digu //Noabeb told Xinhua in an interview that home owners offering the Airbnb service should be registered in order to maintain minimum standards so that tourists to Namibia get value for money.
He said failure to register with the NTB will erode the destination quality of Namibia that they have been promoting.
“In all our road shows and marketing, we have assured potential tourists to Namibia that our accommodation establishments are of international standard.”
He said maintaining standards is particularly important for Namibia because Southern Africa is generally perceived as offering low quality services to guests.
According to Namibian laws, any accommodation establishment with two or more bedrooms is required to register with the NTB.
Any person who provides accommodation to a tourist in an accommodation establishment which is not registered commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding 20,000 Namibian dollars (1,500 U.S. dollars) or to imprisonment not exceeding two years or both. Enditem
Source: Xinhua/NewsGhana.com.gh
