CHTA Urges Antigua and Caribbean to Regulate Short-Term Rentals for Economic Gain

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) is calling on Antigua and other regional destinations to embrace and regulate the short-term rental (STR) market, releasing a comprehensive framework designed to help governments capture tourism revenue while ensuring sustainable growth. According to Antigua News Room, the framework was developed through industry research and stakeholder consultation, including input from 14 National Hotel and Tourism Associations.

Short-term rentals have become a fixture of Caribbean tourism. In one major Caribbean destination, STR visitor nights grew 118% between 2019 and 2025, accounting for 39% of all visitor accommodation by Q1 2026. The CHTA says the trend is not reversing and that destinations must act strategically to benefit from it.

"Short-term rentals represent both economic opportunity and the need for smart regulation," said Sanovnik Destang, president of CHTA. "Our framework recognizes that STRs are here to stay — and that's positive for local entrepreneurship, destination diversity, and visitor choice. This is balanced growth, not restriction."

The association points to significant risks for governments that fail to regulate the sector. In the Dominican Republic alone, the annual accommodation tax gap attributable to unregulated STRs is estimated at USD $170 million. The CHTA also notes that when STR data is unavailable, airlines tend to underestimate market capacity, contributing to flight shortages and visitor frustration.

Short-term rentals serve traveller segments that hotels cater to differently, including families seeking kitchen facilities and additional space, remote workers requiring extended stays, and visitors seeking authentic neighbourhood experiences. The CHTA argues that STRs expand total visitor accommodation capacity and allow local property owners to participate directly in the tourism economy.

"Destinations that embrace transparent registration and fair regulation will capture the full economic benefit of this trend," said Vanessa Ledesma, CEO of CHTA. "They'll strengthen their brand, ensure visitor safety, and protect long-term destination viability."

The CHTA framework highlights regulatory models already in use across the region, noting that compliance rates reach 85 to 90% within 18 to 24 months when registration processes are transparent and economic incentives are properly aligned.

The framework itself provides registration methodologies, tax collection models, safety standards, host support programmes, data transparency frameworks, and flexible monitoring mechanisms for destinations to adopt and adapt.

The Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association has represented the Caribbean hospitality and tourism industry for more than 60 years. It counts 32 National Hotel Associations and over 1,000 members across hotels, resorts, tourism providers, and allied partners throughout the region.