In Los Cabos, travel trends and the way of traveling have undergone significant transformations in recent years, according to Francisco Madrid, director of the Center for Advanced Research in Sustainable Tourism at the Anahuac University (STARC). Madrid highlighted that lodging platforms have become one of the industries with the highest sales within the tourism sector.

The expert pointed out that the four most popular lodging platforms in Mexico are Airbnb, TripAdvisor, Vrbo and Booking. However, the presence and impact of each one varies depending on the destination. In the specific case of Baja California Sur, especially in Los Cabos, there is a notable number of houses and properties for rent under this format. "Los Cabos is one of the destinations that sells the most through these platforms. I don't have the exact data, but I estimate that it is around one billion dollars annually," said Madrid.

Madrid also commented on the uneven competition that exists due to innovation in the different lodging services. He argued that it is necessary for the authorities to establish a "level playing field" for these services and traditional hotels. Despite the progress made, there are still several pending aspects to be addressed, such as security against crimes in these properties and the need for insurance for guests who suffer accidents during their stay.

"We do not have a regulation that is strong enough to guarantee a fair competition. Everyone is welcome, but we consider that they can open an offer in 30 minutes, while building a hotel takes two years in permits, paperwork and licenses," concluded the director.

Recently, the Ministry of Tourism implemented the mobile application of the National Registry of Tourism (RNT), which brings together a public catalog of tourism service providers in the country. This tool seeks to provide tourists with certainty and security about the lodging services available, thus reinforcing the confidence of travelers.

With the growing influence of these platforms in the tourism market, it is essential that adequate regulations are established to guarantee fair and safe competition, benefiting both tourists and service providers.