Airbnb wants new Panama deal, including paying taxes

Airbnb  wants to change legislation that currently allows the platform to cover only the interior saying its growth will attract more tourists and visitors to the country.

Carlos Muñoz, general manager of Public Policies for Central America and the Caribbean, said: “There is a prohibition of short accommodations such as the Airbnb model in the capital city  We are looking for is to eliminate that prohibition to enter strongly to invest in Panama with promotional and tourist campaigns “Muñoz said. 

In 2018, the platform attracted more than 90,000 thousand guests to Panama and generated more than 5,300 advertisements to promote lodging and tourism locations in the isthmus.

“We want to be partners of the country so that through our platform more tourists can reach Panama. Those who use Airbnb are tourists who are looking for new, authentic and different experiences, so we are not competition for hotels” Muñoz said.

He explained that 67% of the guests of the platform are between 30 and 59 years old and 61% of visitors come from North America. While around 30,000 Panamanians have used the platform on their trips abroad.

The most popular destinations in Panama via Airbnb are Bocas del Toro, Río Hato, Boquete, Chiriquí and Gorgona beach.

Muñoz said that one of the things they want to promote in Panama is to reach agreements with the Government in this case with the General Directorate of Revenue to pay taxes and contribute even more to the local economy.

Adding that  the platform already has tax agreements in more than 400 jurisdictions