The Tourism Fund, on the October 3, 2023, put the owners of Airbnb in Kenya on notice.
The Tourism Fund chairperson, Samson Some noted that out of the total estimated 40,000 listed Airbnb hosts in Kenya, only four hundred have registered with the fund.
According to Some, the small number of registrations means that most Airbnb are not compliant with the 2.0 percent taxes on proceedings from Airbnb.
“We urge all hosts to know that they offer accommodation and as a result are required by law to register and remit the 2 percent levy.” Tourism Fund Chief Executive Officer David Mwangi stated while speaking at a stakeholder meeting of the North Rift Economic Block.
Moreover, David Mwangi said the Tourism Fund is currently working with Airbnb Africa to have all the hosts on the platform registered.
Also Read: Raila Rules Out Maandamano Over Taxes
Consequently, to this effect, all the Airbnb hosts that are not registered were requested to visit any nearest Tourism Fund office to register their vacation rentals.
Furthermore, the Tourism Fund clarified that the proceeds from the tourism levy will be used to develop the sector.
However, this tourism levy will directly translate into an increase in prices for Airbnb accommodation.
With the tough economic times, this comes as a big blow to Kenyans who had relied heavily on the Airbnb for accommodation during travel, work, and other such endeavors.
Here are some other affordable alternatives to Airbnb hosting.
Other Booking Sites
Airbnb users may consider online booking sites such as Vmdo, Booking.com Expedia, Trip advisor, Sonder and Glamping.com. They can also opt for a new accommodation site which works for the African market known as Bongalo.
These accommodation sites operate similarly to Airbnb in terms of providing accommodations to travelers, people on business travels or just people who are seeking to get away from the norm of their own homes.
Backpackers’ hostels.
Before Airbnb booking was available, travelers went for hostels.
Hostels are rooms that offer cheap accommodation and inexpensive food to their visitors.
Moreover, these hostels are available across the country and are offered by locals. However, some of them have been reported for not having enough security, especially for travelers with precious items.
They have also been in the spotlight for not being unsanitary places of stay. Therefore, it is up to the traveler seeking accommodation to carry out due diligence to avoid unfortunate incidents.
Accommodation with Relatives and Friends
Seeking accommodation at relatives’ and friends’ houses might end up being the cheapest option of all.
This is because the food and accommodation are often freely or cheaply offered.
However, some travelers prefer not to couch surf with family and pals due to various issues and therefore this might not be a good option for them.
Travellers in such situations would be best advised to look for other forms of accommodation.
Hotels Under Budget
Likewise, there are hotels offering cheap accommodation to travelers.
This fact has however been forgotten with the rise of affordable and comfortable Airbnb accommodation.
However, with the Tourism Levy being imposed, travelers under budget might be pushed back to seeking hotel accommodation under budget.
These hotels are found all over the country and in some cases, come with a breakfast option in their packages.
Also Read: Discover the Beauty and Diversity of Tourism in Kenya: Everything You Need to Know
Camping
For the travelers looking for an adventurous experience, camping may be the way to go. The expenses required include buying the camping gear, food and paying for the camping grounds.
This, however, is not an option available to everyone, for example people travelling on a budget.
Therefore, depending on one’s needs, it is upon the traveler to gauge his/her own needs and get the accommodation that works for them.
