David Collado: Airbnb regulations improve tourist safety, not raise taxes

JSBy Joan SanzCurated by Joan Sanz. · July 30, 2026 · Follow on LinkedIn

Voice reading · ~2 min

Tourism Minister David Collado made it clear: regulating Airbnb-style accommodations is not an excuse to raise taxes, it's a measure to protect tourists. The government will create a mandatory national registry for these short-term rentals, as reported by Dominican Today. Collado insists the goal is to improve safety for travelers who choose this type of stay, a point that, in my view, is crucial to maintaining trust in the destination.

The initiative aims to bring order to a market that has grown unchecked. Many property owners operate informally, without the minimum safety standards required of a resort or registered hotel. With this registry, MITUR can ensure every accommodation meets basic requirements: fire extinguishers, emergency exits, liability insurance. This is not a witch hunt: it's bringing rules to the jungle so we all play on a level field.

At Turismo News, we applaud that Collado flatly rules out a tax hike. The temptation to use regulation as a fiscal excuse is always there, but the minister has been blunt: safety not revenue. That's smart and gives confidence to investors. Now we need to see the fine print: how will enforcement work? What happens to existing hosts? But the direction is right, as noted in the Dominican Today article.

Quick questions

Will the Airbnb regulation in the DR raise taxes?

No. Minister Collado has ruled it out: the goal is to improve tourist safety, not increase the tax burden.

What does the national Airbnb registry involve?

It will be mandatory for all tourist accommodations and will require minimum safety standards such as fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and insurance.

Will it affect property owners renting out apartments?

Yes, they will need to register and meet requirements, but no new taxes or additional fees are planned.

Why does the Dominican government want to regulate Airbnb?

To guarantee the safety of tourists renting private accommodations and to bring order to the informal market that has grown without oversight.

When will this regulation take effect?

No specific date yet, but Minister Collado's announcement marks the start of the regulatory drafting process.

Was this article useful?

The daily brief

The Dominican tourism brief, in your inbox

Hotels, airlines, MITUR, cruises and destinations. One sharp email a day. Free.

I accept the terms

The brief Dominican travel professionals read every morning.

Editorial content by Turismo News. It may contain errors. Verify anything important with the original source.

This article may mention third-party products, companies or services for informational purposes. Turismo News does not endorse them and is not responsible for them or for what they offer. Editorial content curated by the Turismo News team.

← Back to Turismo News

Turismo News is an independent digest. It is not the official site of any brand mentioned. Content is editorial and curated, and may contain errors. Verify anything important with the original source. This is not financial, legal or investment advice. Some links or blocks may be sponsored or affiliate. Trademarks belong to their owners. You can unsubscribe at any time with one click, and you can request access or deletion of your data at turismo.news/contact.

⚙ Admin