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Rules • Experience host

Tour guiding and travel-related services and experiences

This information page can help you, whether you are a host or co-host, get started in learning about some of the laws and registration requirements that may apply to your experiences on Airbnb.

Please understand that this information page is general, not comprehensive and is not legal advice. These pages are intended to give you an idea of the types of rules that may apply to your services and experiences and to help you understand some of the things to consider in relation to your service or experience.

Different countries, states, and cities have different licensing requirements and rules and it's your responsibility as a host or co-host to make sure you comply with local laws and regulations. These pages are not intended to be an explanation of the specific rules that apply in your jurisdiction, or your particular situation, nor are these pages a substitute for seeking legal advice. If you're unsure about how local laws or this information may apply to you or your services and experiences, we encourage you to check with official sources or seek legal advice.

Please note that we don’t update this information in real time, so you should confirm that the laws or procedures have not changed recently.*

Do I need a license to act as a tour guide?

Experiences hosts that provide tour-related services may require a license, certification, and/or training. Some jurisdictions may have such requirements pertaining to tour guides for specific types of experiences, or activities in specific locations. Other jurisdictions have such requirements for offering any experience. We encourage you to contact your local government and/or a lawyer to determine whether or not a specific license or permit might be required for your experience.

Many markets have specific regulations concerning tour guiding which may apply to hosts. While these requirements vary from market to market, they tend to include expansive definitions of what constitutes tour guide activity and mandate licensing, including:

  • The restriction of licenses issued to foreigners
  • The requirement for a potential guides to take a course or pass a test before applying for a license
  • The requirement for additional certification for certain tour guiding activities

It's a good idea for you to contact your local government or a lawyer to determine whether a license is required to engage in tour guide activities and obtain more information about the license requirements and procedure for obtaining a license in your jurisdiction.

Do I need permission to give my guests a tour of specific points of interest?

Even if you do not need to be a licensed or certified tour guide, hosts should generally seek permission to give guided tours of private and public points of interest, government-owned land, or public waters. It's a good idea to check whether the point of interest has a website or office number to learn more about guided visits.

Keep in mind that the underlying activity for your experience may also be regulated.

Do I need a license to transport guests as part of a tour?

Many jurisdictions regulate carrying passengers for hire or offering transportation for the specific purpose of guided sight-seeing tours. Please take a look at our Responsible Hosting for transportation article to determine if any other rules may apply to your activity.

Can I sell tickets as part of my experience?

Probably, as long as you do so in compliance with any ticket resale regulations and the Airbnb Terms of Service. Some jurisdictions have enacted laws prohibiting the resale of certain types of tickets at higher prices, while others allow this activity with a license. The tickets themselves may also be non-transferrable. These restrictions may not apply to online sales.

If you plan to re-sell tickets as part of your experience, the tickets must be included in the price you set for your experience. It's a good idea to confirm this is legally permitted in your jurisdiction, as well as consulting the original purchase terms for the tickets and any vendor or venue rules about their resale.

*Please note that Airbnb has no control over the conduct of hosts and co-hosts and disclaims all liability. Failure of hosts or co-hosts to satisfy their responsibilities may result in suspension of activity or removal from the Airbnb website.

Airbnb is not responsible for the reliability or correctness of the information contained in any links to third party sites (including any links to legislation and regulations).

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