China is preparing for its big Congress of the 19th Congress next week repressing all sorts of things – including now Airbnb.
source Shanghaiist
Airbnb reserves in Beijing within a 20-kilometer radius of Tiananmen Square will be canceled for the rest of October, the world’s largest room sharing platform said on Tuesday without further explanation.
According to a web site search, it leaves only 1 percent of the Airbnb listings in Beijing available for the rest of the month.
Booming Tourism Industry in China
Similar to the action taken by other hospitality companies, Airbnb listings in certain areas in Beijing will be temporarily unavailable through October, “the company informed its hosts by text messages on Tuesday.” Guests with reservations during this period will receive full refunds. ”
With the Communist Party congress twice a decade starting Oct. 18, Beijing goes into blockage to make sure nothing is disturbing the event in which Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to begin his second five-year term by consolidating his power in a much-anticipated reorganization of leadership. Read also Tech Firm in China
Airbnb expects to take off in China
Already thousands of police from other provinces have been sent to the Chinese capital, while all police permits in Beijing have been canceled since early September. Identification checks have increased at city transportation stations to detain unregistered workers, petitioners and other potential rioters.
Airbnb expects to take off in China, despite entering the market with a few years of delay. In March, the company even unveiled a new Chinese name.
Tujia
Its biggest competitor in China, Tujia, has also canceled the temporary reserves in Beijing until the end of the month.
Beijing is my home ! 