LUCEA, Hanover — Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has flatly rejected claims that the recent repeal of the Jamaica Tourist Board Act is motivated by the Government’s desire to tax Airbnb-style offerings.

“The false suggestion that there is an intention to tax or to provide any kind of punitive measures against any sector and any sub-sector of the industry should be rubbished. And certainly, those who have been making a particular claim that Airbnb is being singled out and that there’s an intention to tax Airbnb, let that be known now, without any equivocation, that there’s no policy, no arrangement in line for taxation on any Airbnb activity,” stated Bartlett.

He was speaking with the media on the sidelines of the Lords Multi-purpose Court rehabilitation project in Malcolm Heights, Lucea, on Thursday.

The bed and breakfast concept is the offering of short- and long-term homestays, experiences and services by various property owners as opposed to staying in a traditional hotel. It has become increasingly popular with the launch of the Airbnb online platform out of California in 2007.

Over the past few years there has been pushback against Airbnb in some countries concerned about a negative impact on their housing stock. However, Jamaica’s tourism ministry has often touted the strength of that niche within the local tourism market even as it acknowledges the need to explore measures that will address larger players’ call for a level playing field.

On July 1, the House of Representatives commenced debate on the Jamaica Tourist Board Bill, 2025. The legislation is aimed at repealing and replacing the existing Tourist Board Act of 1955, which has governed the tourism sector.

Bartlett told the House that the proposed Bill modernises the legal foundation to ensure that it supports current operations, and anticipates the alignment of future developments with Jamaica’s vision for a robust, well-regulated tourism industry.

Under the Bill, there is a clause that speaks to penalties that would be imposed on tourism accommodations that operate without being licensed or registered. Many properties now used for short stays fall into that category.

In a press release Thursday, the young professionals arm of the People’s National Party, The Patriots, said it stood with the position taken by party president Mark Golding and Opposition spokesman on finance Julian Robinson in the House on Wednesday. Pushback from both men saw debate on the Bill being suspended indefinitely.

“This Government is not regulating; they’re legislating poverty. What we’re witnessing is a blatant attack on working-class Jamaicans and diaspora families who dared to invest in their country. It’s class war disguised as policy. We will not allow the State to criminalise ambition or hand the tourism industry over to a few elites. Real progress means putting people over profit every single time,” said Patriots President Paul Blake Jr.

The political organisation is urging the Government to “pause and revisit this legislation, engaging more extensively with Airbnb owners, industry experts, and community members.”

“Only through inclusive dialogue and careful planning can we develop fair regulations that protect jobs, foster economic growth, and safeguard the rights of ordinary Jamaicans,” added the group.

But speaking with the media on Thursday, Bartlett reiterated the intention of the Bill.

“I wish to make very clear that the Government of Jamaica and the Ministry of Tourism, in putting forward the repeal of the Jamaica Tourist Board Act, seek to define tourism service activities in the broad spectrum and to anticipate emerging models of various types of tourism products so as to enable proper collaboration by all, but most importantly, to ensure that there are legislative and regulatory arrangements that will secure the destination integrity of Jamaica and to enable the reviews that are made of us from time to time and the travel levels that we get are in keeping with the high standards and the highest tradition of safety, security, and seamlessness,” he stated.

The tourism minister stressed that the aim of the Government is to ensure that all services offered are of the highest standard.

“What there is, is a desire and an intention and a determination to ensure that all the services that are provided to our international and domestic visitors alike are in the highest tradition of integrity and offers the safest and most secure arrangement that is possible in this space. And so, we want that to be very clear,” explained Bartlett.

“It is wrong to make political mileage of a situation which clearly is neither stated nor is it a policy position. We urge that everyone understands that to enable our great industry to continue to provide the level of economic development prospects as well as the straight revenue and services for the people of this country, we must have it structured, organised, and be operating in a manner that allows for the highest tradition of the protection of the integrity of destination,” he added.