JAKARTA: The Indonesian government has tightened regulations for short-term rental properties including those listed on digital platform Airbnb by mandating that they possess business permits, the country's tourism minister said on Friday (Feb 27).
* All accommodations listed on online travel agencies must have necessary business licenses by March 31, Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said on her Instagram account.
* The government expects all operators to start processing the required permits, Widiyanti said.
* The new regulation came after the governor of Indonesian resort island of Bali proposed to halt all short-term rentals including those listed on Airbnb, as the provincial government was losing regional tax revenue.
* Widiyanti said the move seeks to ensure Indonesia's tourism sector keeps growing, to prevent tax evasion, and to provide a fair environment for all business operators in the tourism sector. - Reuters
