The President of the Ghana Hotels Association, Dr Edward Ackah-Nyamike, has cautioned that the unchecked expansion of Airbnb and similar short-term rental platforms could negatively impact the nation’s established hotel industry.

Dr Ackah-Nyamike emphasized that the concern isn’t about fair competition, but rather the existing disparities in regulations and tax obligations.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition on Thursday, he explained that hotels have always welcomed competition, citing their comprehensive service offerings as a key differentiator. “Our challenge has never been with competition at all, because the hotels have, if I should call it some monopoly in terms of the services that they provide,” he stated.

He elaborated that hotels function as full-service establishments, providing not only lodging but also dining, entertainment, recreational facilities, and even car rental services. “We provide accommodation at the same place, we provide entertainment, and we provide food and drinks. We also provide some recreational activities and, in some cases, car rentals. So we have that unique niche in the market,” he explained.

The core of the hotel association’s worry, Dr Ackah-Nyamike noted, lies in the regulatory imbalance. Hotels are subject to a multitude of taxes, levies, and regulatory fees, burdens often avoided by Airbnb operators. “What we have not been happy about is the regulation of that sector in terms of taxes, in terms of levies, in terms of the regulatory fees that we pay that they don’t pay, and so they end up providing services at cheaper rates,” he said.

While acknowledging that short-term rentals can sometimes alleviate pressure on the hospitality sector during peak seasons, he stated, “To the extent that you can go to some hotel, the place is booked, and the only option that you may have is an Airbnb, so yes, it’s helping the industry as a whole.”

However, he reiterated that the uneven playing field created by lax regulation remains the central issue. “It’s the unequal environment that it provides in terms of taxation. That’s what our issue has been,” he added.

Dr Ackah-Nyamike affirmed that the Ghana Hotels Association would have no objections to Airbnb’s operation if it adhered to the same regulatory standards and tax requirements as traditional hotels. “So once that sector of the industry is well regulated, and they are paying their tax, they are paying their levies, they are doing all the regulatory things that we do, FDA, fire service, EPA and all that, we have no problem at all with that,” he said.

He warned that a continued failure to address this regulatory gap could distort pricing within the hospitality market, potentially disadvantaging established hotels despite growing demand for accommodation.

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