Airbnb, the US-based accommodation booking site, has suspended hosting of all lodgings in Myanmar in response to the country's strict laws prohibiting foreigners from staying in unregistered hotels and guesthouses, reports TTR Weekly.

Airbnb sent out email notices to hosts in Myanmar informing them that their listings and reservations are no longer available, and that their listings will no longer appear on Airbnb's platform. However, the hosts will still have access to the details of past reservations and payment transactions.

According to Airbnb, their local business in Myanmar consisted of only a small number of active listings, as their pool of potential hosts is limited to registered hotels and guesthouses due to the strict laws in the country.

In contrast, other booking services such as Agoda, Expedia, and Booking.com continue to feature Myanmar hotels, with online payments possible using international credit cards.

However, popular travel websites caution that it is illegal to host foreigners in private homes or offer short-term rentals to tourists in Myanmar, with violators facing up to three years in jail. Only permanent residents and foreigners holding business visas are permitted to rent apartments or houses.