Conference proceeding
Airbnb: “posterchild" or "im-moral deviant" in Covid-19 destination recovery?
Shaping the Next Normal in Tourism, Hospitality and Events: Proceedings of the 31st Annual Conference Council for Australasian University Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE), pp.55-68
CAUTHE 2022: Shaping the Next Normal in Tourism, Hospitality and Events, 32nd (Virtual, 07/02/2022 - 09/02/2022)
2022
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Abstract
This study aims to present a counter-frame to extensive media and empirical studies that principally paint short-term rental accommodation (STRA), specifically Airbnb, in a negative light -the im-moral deviant. The paper responds to a revolving, robust, but polarising STRA discourse, thus expanding the analytical understanding of the Airbnb phenomenon. Neighbourhoods experiencing transformation often perceive the change as singularly bought about by the online accommodation platform. The mere word “Airbnb”sometimes signifies moral panic and deviance, perpetuating recurrent anti-platform rhetoric.We submit an alternate perspective that Airbnb induced “moral panic” beseeching communities worldwide is unreasonable!Theoretical underpinnings of “moral panic” and “frames” support reconstruction of the Airbnb narrative through re-framing of selective secondary sources -literature and media -supported through case reference to Byron Shire, Australia. The findings suggest that media rhetoric is often louder thancommunity-felt reality, with fear and frenzy amplified beyond its scale. Such amplification implies a worldwide Airbnb imposition rather than narrow-based impacts centred on small geographic pockets and nuanced stakeholder self-interests. During this Covid-19 transition period, our novel perspective extends beyond the dichotomous (+ve/-ve) representations of Airbnb, highlighting a tribrid of mixed responses to the phenomenon. We further prefer an innovative planning and policy frontier where destination recovery requires new people and places to incorporate new tourism production and consumption models. Such a perspective invites further research on the gap between news reporting, community wellbeing, and the academe.
Details
- Title
- Airbnb: “posterchild" or "im-moral deviant" in Covid-19 destination recovery?
- Creators
- Rodney William Caldicott - Southern Cross UniversitySupattra Sroypetch - Khon Kaen UniversityTania von der Heidt - Southern Cross UniversityDeborah Che - Southern Cross UniversitySabine Muschter - Southern Cross University
- Contributors
- Anna Kralj (Editor) - Griffith University
- Publication Details
- Shaping the Next Normal in Tourism, Hospitality and Events: Proceedings of the 31st Annual Conference Council for Australasian University Tourism and Hospitality Education (CAUTHE), pp.55-68
- Conference
- CAUTHE 2022: Shaping the Next Normal in Tourism, Hospitality and Events, 32nd (Virtual, 07/02/2022 - 09/02/2022)
- Publisher
- CAUTHE
- Identifiers
- 991013224112302368
- Copyright
- © CAUTHE 2022.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Business, Law and Arts; The Hotel School; Office of the PVC (Academic Innovation)
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Conference proceeding