The Hotel and Tourism Association of the Dominican Republic (Asonahores) He informed that this sector supports the proposal to regulate short -income housing promoted by the Ministry of Tourism and urged the General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII) to also assume its fiscal responsibility.
The president of the entity, Juan BancalariHe explained that Asonahores actively works with the Ministry of Tourism, in the review of a regulatory proposal that has already been delivered more than a month ago. It contemplates the creation of licenses, both for the owner and for the “host” or host, with registration and verification requirements of the property.
As indicated, the Association has elaborated a counterproposal that seeks to improve the visitor’s experience and close the gaps that still persist.
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The executive vice president of Asonahores, Aguie Lendor, stated that among the measures contemplated in the draft is the obligation to show verified photos of the properties, which will be inspected by the ministry, thus avoiding common frauds on digital platforms. In addition, the properties must have a visible license number in the ads, as a guarantee of authenticity and security for the tourist.
However, from Asonahores insist that the reach of the Ministry of Tourism It is limited. Although it can establish minimal requirements on quality and safety of properties, it has no competence in tax or territorial planning.
Therefore, they propose that the DGII implements a clear and fair taxation scheme, which includes the collection of Itbis on the total amount of the rent and not only on the digital platform commission.
Lendor indicated that in February a decree was issued that sought to establish a tax on the commission charged by the platforms, but was withdrawn hours later, due to broader considerations that affected other digital services such as Amazon, Netflix or Uber.
“For Asonahores, it is fair to tax the total accommodation operation, since, in practice, short income is generating income like any hotel, but without paying the same taxes,” he said.
On his side, the president of the entity, Juan Bancalari, said that this service is an unfair competition, which must be treated in an integral way, because the short income operates without security controls, fiscal or urban controls.
On the other hand, the first vice president of Asonahores, Javier Tejada, warned that this situation is also generating the phenomenon of gentrification, since the growing demand for short -income properties is displacing the working classes in downtown areas, raising land prices and making access to decent homes difficult for those who offer essential services to tourism. “It is a social problem that we have already seen in European cities,” he said.
Asonahores managers clarified that they are not against real estate tourism. “What we reject is the uncontrolled and deregulated growth of an offer that is neither tourism nor has any type of security, environmental or urban control,” said Bancalari, in the interview with today.
