| 英文摘要 |
As the Sharing Economy model continues to rise globally, the pioneer of sharing economy company, Airbnb, has now reached Taiwan. Most of the listed rental properties on Taiwan’s Airbnb home sharing platform do not meet the local municipal’s legal restrictions on short-term home rentals thus making them illegal. These dwellings are neither government-licensed hotels nor government approved Home Stay/Inns (which are called “Minsu” in Taiwan). Airbnb is quickly becoming a threat to the traditional hotel industry or Minsu as travelers choose to book with the unregulated independent hosts. Many issues such as taxation to Airbnb, adequate fire safety of the dwelling, personal safety of the renter, local zoning restrictions, and neighbor disturbance/quality of living are on the top of list being examined by the government. This article will first discuss the legal paradox for the operation of Airbnb in Taiwan, then will compare regulations utilized by major cities and countries around the world - notably Japan’s experience for its preparation for 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Finally this article will propose recommendations for regulations that can be leveraged by the Taiwanese government, which can also be provided for government’s reference, to create a competitive yet fair marketplace for Airbnb to operate in Taiwan. |
