Certain Legal Aspects of Airbnb in Thailand

Abstract

Airbnb is a concept of sharing economy that developed from the traditional walk-in hotel accommodation to an online platform, where people can create a listing of their own houses or rent out an accommodation online as a short-term rental. In spite of having the advantage upon the business under Airbnb in Thailand, there are no specific laws that cover Airbnb, which include the Hotel act in Thailand, the said law cannot be applied to Airbnb accommodations as there is no definition that covers the meaning of the hotel under the Hotel Act for Airbnb and it is an illegal business also, short-term rental is not allowed in Thailand. The matter of facts could be solved by considering to legalize Airbnb in Thailand by amending the Hotel Act and other minor laws and regulations to protect our citizen, visitors, and the Government. Thailand should take action by not only promoting the tourism of the country but also providing good accommodation for visitors.