Crossref JGate SDG Google Scholar Open Access Creative Commons WorldCat OCLC DORA Scilit Semantic Scholar SDG
Influence of Short-Term Rentals and Gig Economy on Tourism in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu<b></b>
ARTICLE PDF FILE

Keywords

Gig Economy
Home Stays
Kodaikanal
Short-term Rentals
Tourism

Categories

How to Cite

Eugene, J. (2025). Influence of Short-Term Rentals and Gig Economy on Tourism in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. South India Journal of Social Sciences, 23(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.62656/SIJSS.v23i1.1596

Abstract

This study explores the intersection of short-term rentals (STRs) and the gig economy within the context of tourism, focusing on how platforms like Airbnb, Home stays, Bed and Breakfast accommodations influence local economies, tourism demand, and the labor market in the popular tourist destination Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. With the rapid rise of STRs, many individuals have transitioned into the gig economy, offering their properties or services to tourists in exchange for flexible income opportunities. Using semi-structured interviews with hosts, guests, and tourism professionals, this qualitative study investigates the economic, social, and regulatory impacts of STRs. Thematic analysis is employed to identify key themes and patterns from the interview data, which include economic impact, flexibility and work conditions, regulatory concerns, and demand uncertainty. The findings reveal that STRs provide significant economic benefits for hosts but also contribute to housing market inflation in urban areas, leading to tensions with local communities. The study also highlights the flexibility and autonomy that gig workers experience, although these benefits are tempered by risks such as income instability and the lack of formal worker protections. Additionally, concerns regarding regulations and the sustainability of STRs are raised, especially in the face of over-tourism. The paper concludes by suggesting that effective policy development is essential to balance the benefits of STRs with the challenges they pose to housing markets and local communities in Kodaikanal. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of how STRs and the gig economy are reshaping tourism demand, work conditions, and urban landscapes.

ARTICLE PDF FILE

References

Berg, J. (2016). Income insecurity in the gig economy: Is this the future of work? Journal of Industrial Rela-tions, 58(4), 495-511.

Chevalier, M., Gaggino, S., & Lissardy, E. (2019). Economic impacts of Airbnb on local markets: Evi-dence from Paris. Journal of Tourism Economics, 30(1), 1-19.

Cheng, M. (2016). Sharing economy: A review and agenda for future research. Tourism Management Per-spectives, 20, 169-179.

Crompton, J. L. (2019). The contribution of short-term rental services to the tourism economy. Tourism Eco-nomics, 25(2), 229-247.

De Stefano, V. (2016). The rise of the 'just-in-time' workforce: On-demand work, crowd work, and labor protection in the gig economy. Comparative Labor Law & Policy Journal, 37(3), 471-504.

Fang, B., Ye, Q., & Law, R. (2016). Tourism and hotel development in China: An economic perspec-tive. Tourism Management, 57, 153-164.

Gunter, U. (2021). The economic and social impacts of short-term rentals. Journal of Tourism Economics, 18(4), 458-472.

Gurran, N., & Phibbs, P. (2017). When tourists move in: The effects of tourism and short-term rentals on lo-cal housing markets. Urban Studies, 54(5), 1047-1062.

Guttentag, D. (2015). Airbnb: Disruptive innovation and the rise of the share economy. Tourism Manage-ment, 47, 222-232.

Katz, L. F., & Krueger, A. B. (2016). The rise and nature of alternative work arrangements in the United States, 1995-2015. ILR Review, 69(1), 1-19.

Kramer, A. (2020). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on short-term rentals. Tourism Manage-ment, 81, 104149.

Kuo, C. M., Lee, C. K., & Li, X. (2020). Short-term rental regulation in the digital era: Policy challenges and implementation strategies. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 45, 15-25.

Lutz, L. (2018). Factors influencing the success of short-term rentals in the tourism sector. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 35, 47-56.

López, F., & Becerra, M. (2020). Regulating short-term rentals: A global review. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 28(3), 439-455.

Martin, C. (2016). The sharing economy: A pathway to sustainability or a nightmarish form of neoliberal capitalism? Organization Studies, 37(7), 991-1010.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright (c) 2025 South India Journal of Social Sciences