Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 17 June 2020 - To support the tourism industry’s recovery efforts, Airbnb has today announced the launch of its Enhanced Cleaning Protocol in Malaysia, the first overarching standardized protocol for cleaning and sanitization for short-term rental accommodation, endorsed by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA).

With the Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) in place and interstate travel resuming, a surge in domestic tourism is expected to take place. With health, cleanliness, and safety being top-of-mind for all travelers, Airbnb’s Enhanced Cleaning Protocol ensures safety and confidence in travelling among hosts and guests.

An Industry-Leading Approach to Ensuring Cleanliness

The new Protocol, which will be progressively rolled out in Malaysia in the coming weeks, is developed in consultation with leading experts and endorsed by MMA. It also provides hosts in Malaysia with step-by-step guidance on how to clean and sanitise their homes to the highest standards and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

These industry-first guidelines include a step-by-step cleaning handbook designed for everyday hosts. Hosts who attest to follow the program will receive a special badge on their listing, making it easy for guests to identify and book listings that follow the short-term rental industry’s most robust set of cleaning standards.

This effort builds off of Airbnb's strong track record of cleanliness: To date, more than 94% of all reviews were satisfied with cleanliness, scoring it at 4 or 5 stars after their stays^[1].

“As we start the process of reopening our economies and reviving tourism, it is important that we observe recommendations made by the Ministry of Health to keep everyone safe. We are looking forward to supporting Airbnb as they launch the Airbnb Enhanced Cleaning protocol to ensure safe travel for both their guests and hosts in Malaysia. Our approach will continue to evolve as our knowledge and understanding of COVID-19 grows,” said Dr N. Ganabaskaran, MMA President.

Enhanced Cleaning Standards Unlock the Future of Travel

Following the COVID-19 crisis, high standards of health and hygiene will be critical to reassuring travellers that they can travel safely and rebuilding the Malaysian tourism industry. A more consistent industry approach would help speed tourism’s recovery and avoid burdening small tourism operators with inappropriate standards designed for large, commercial businesses.

“Airbnb hosts in Malaysia pride themselves on offering a great guest experience and cleanliness is a key part of that. This new Protocol will empower hosts and guests with the information they need to keep themselves safe and restore traveller confidence. We believe these standards set the bar for short-term rental accommodation and could form the foundation for a new industry-wide standard in Malaysia,” said Kum Hong Siew, Regional Director (Asia-Pacific), Airbnb.