Airbnb calls for 'light touch' rules on WA hosts, saying current regulations stifle tourism growth

Accommodation provider Airbnb is advocating for minimal regulation of most of the properties on its website, arguing a heavy-handed approach would act as a handbrake on tourism growth in Western Australia. Key points: A parliamentary committee is investigating short-stay accommodation in WA Tourism groups claim fewer regulations cost the economy millions of dollars Airbnb says a "heavy-handed" approach will stifle the local tourism industry Airbnb executives made the comments during hearings by the WA Parliament's Economics and Industry Standing Committee into regulation of short-stay accommodation in the state. Airbnb today said it backed "fair and progressive" rules, with only "light touch" regulations for the majority of its hosts, who shared the home in which they lived. Outside the hearing, Airbnb host Francis Hourquebie said he would accept "light touch" regulations over his Floreat home. Current rules acting as tourism handbrake: Airbnb Airbnb Australian manager Sam McDonagh said West Australian Airbnb hosts had welcomed almost 600,000 guests in the past 12 months, who had injected $155 million into the state's economy and contributed $100 million to gross state product.