Editor:
I have never stayed at an Airbnb short-term rental (STR) but friends and family have, so I’m fully aware of the advantages. “What’s the big deal?” you may ask if you don’t have an STR near you. There is a hidden price being paid by the surrounding neighbourhoods that do. Some justify this sacrifice by the influx of tourism dollars, but closer scrutiny tells a different story.
Traditional hosted B&Bs cater largely to well-heeled older couples who are served breakfast and will likely go out for a sit-down meal or two. The owner lives on the Coast year-round, spending money on a whole range of services and supplies, from health care to hair care.
An STR appeals to large groups on a budget: extended families or groups of young people. Smart ones load up with cheaper groceries and gas as well as their own watercraft before hitting the Coast. Having already paid for a view deck with barbecue and full kitchen, they are unlikely to spend a small fortune at a local restaurant unless it’s fast food. After all, the main attractions here are free: swimming, boating, kayaking, hiking and endless bike trails.
That rental income? It may not even stay here, like the off-Coast owner down the street with a six-bedroom purpose-built STR (and the option to build another next door) or the numbered company that rents out West Sechelt waterfront condos. Other than cleaning services during tourist season, those owners won’t be spending much here.
Those sickened by the noise may take a price hit if they want to sell, reducing district tax revenue while creating a bargain for STR owners wanting to expand their holdings. This “hollowing out” of communities, in the words of the Gibsons mayor, needs to be eradicated through effective bylaws.
Michael Davidson, Sandy Hook
