Calling for them to be given a piece of the tourism pie, Masidi said the authorities should find ways to regulate the industry, as there was no way of stopping people from actually opening new Airbnbs.
He was referring to current laws in the state which consider Airbnb illegal.
“My personal opinion is that, sooner or later, the local authorities need to come up with a win-win situation to regulate the industry.
“We should look at a way to regulate it rather than just giving a flat no. There is no way to stop Airbnbs. For every single operator caught, there will be 20 to 30 others (coming up),” he said to reporters after launching a digital tourism workshop organised by the Sabah Tourism Board here today.
Airbnb is an online platform that allows people to lease out or book their residential property for a short period of stay.
However, because the Kota Kinabalu City Hall considers Airbnb activities as a lodging house, Airbnb operators must apply for a licence.
Airbnb is also only allowed on lands zoned for commercial or commercial mixed use. Operating on residential-zoned lands is strictly prohibited.
Airbnb operators would also need to comply with strict fire laws and requirements.
BN-friendly
Meanwhile, Masidi dismissed recent claims by Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) that local opposition alliance Gabungan Sabah was a Barisan Nasional-friendly outfit.
Masidi, who is also Sabah Umno assistant secretary, said when it comes to elections, everyone would be vying to win, adding all Sabah politicians were still friends despite having conflicting political ideologies.
“In politics, we contest to win. I don’t think that’s friendly. When you’re competing with each other, there’s no such thing as friendly. It’s as simple as that,” he said.
Masidi said while the leaders were in different parties, that would not stop them from remaining friends.
“You should take it beyond politics. Look at the state legislative assembly. We can still laugh together, even have lunch with each other.
“There is a bit of bantering but while we are in different political camps, we remain friends. I think that’s how I would interpret it.
“We remain very much Sabahans, and Sabahans are noted for friendliness,” he said.
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