Dear Editor,

As the Government of Jamaica considers registering short-term rentals such as Airbnb, special care must be taken — particularly when it comes to small operators hosting fewer than 20 guests. While regulation can serve a purpose, excessive red tape, over-taxation, and unnecessary complexity risk strangling a vital part of our tourism economy: microentrepreneurs and community hosts.

In an economy already challenged by high crime and limited formal job opportunities, we should be making it easier — not harder — for ordinary Jamaicans to enter the tourism sector. These small operators — whether they’re renting a room, running a local food tour, or offering an authentic cultural stay — are symbols of resilience and vibrancy. They reflect the spirit of Jamaican hospitality, for which our country is globally known.

Don’t over-regulate the simple act of a warm welcome. Don’t over-tax the backyard room. Don’t bury local enterprise in forms and compliance costs. Say it plainly: Hands off! Let microenterprises breathe, grow, and compete on the value and service they provide.

Across the world, it’s been proven that small tourism businesses foster local wealth and social mobility. In Costa Rica, family-run eco-lodges keep up to 80 per cent of tourism income in local communities. In Thailand, village-based guest houses outperform resorts in local impact, with retention rates of 60 per cent or higher. These aren’t exceptions — they’re models Jamaica can build on.

Closer to home, every dollar spent in a small guest house, cookshop, or rural excursion stays right here — creating jobs, boosting families, and building pride. In contrast, much of the money spent in large hotel chains exits the country through foreign ownership and imports.

Regulation should uplift, not suffocate. A tiered, proportional approach — with lighter requirements for those serving fewer than 20 guests — would safeguard public interests without crippling the informal sector.

Above all, let’s remember: the customer — not the Government — should decide who succeeds and who fails. Small enterprises will live or die by the quality of service and the value they offer, not by bureaucratic judgment or licensing hurdles.

Say no to overregulation. Say yes to opportunity.

Let Jamaican hospitality continue to shine — from the hills of Portland to the streets of Montego Bay — unfettered, authentic, and driven by the people.

Conley Salmon

conley.salmon@gmail.com