The director of Tourism of San Miguel de Allende, Tania Castillo de la Peña, assured that in that municipality almost 4 thousand Airbnb inhabitants are already regulated. They even pay an annual tax for the use of land of 45 thousand pesos.
She explained that this municipal tax was implemented a few years ago in order to provide security to visitors, but also to regulate the service.
In 2020, the Congress of Guanajuato approved the Platform Lodging Law. However, it has not yet been possible to regulate it in the municipalities.
The hotel leaders of the state have denounced the unfair competition that Airbnb represents.
“A year ago, a law was approved to make a change of land use for Airbnb and the procedure had a cost. And negotiations continue with them to make it a fairer competition”
The municipal official assured that hotels generate jobs and pay for different services than Airbnb, which is why they have tried to regularize themselves.
“The issue of being in constant communication with the unions and it is something that the hoteliers ask us a lot.”
“The unfair competition between Hotels and AirBnB is a common situation in every tourist destination worldwide.”
The director acknowledged that many of the sister cities of San Miguel de Allende also suffer the same problem.
“I think that more than hotel rooms, I think that more than 4 thousand rooms in Airbnb, and hotels we are at 3 thousand 700 which exceeded. And it was seen after the pandemic.”
Tania Castillo pointed out that Airbnb has to comply with specific regulations.
The regulation consists mostly of the change of land use and that is how these properties are identified, in addition to the fact that they have to be reviewed by Civil Protection and have them located.
The cost of the change in land use is approximately 45 thousand pesos annually.
San Miguel Times
Newsroom
