Local governments should treat Airbnb's differently depending on what they want to achieve says a ChristchurchNZ spokesman.

Queenstown and Auckland are cracking down on Airbnb's in their districts.

But in Christchurch the accommodation website is being credited for boosting visitor levels to the city.

ChristchurchNZ's General manager for strategy and planning, Stephen Perdia, says Queenstown, Auckland and Christchurch are all quite different markets.

"In Queenstown, Airbnb is potentially taking away accommodation from workers, and that's not the same challenge in Christchurch. The challenge is more about creating an even playing field for the business and accommodation sector."

A study found that 20 per cent of visitors who stay in Christchurch book their accommodation through the app, which allows homeowners to rent rooms out short term for tourists and travellers.

Last month, the Queenstown Lakes District Council voted in favour of restricting the length of time homeowners could rent their houses out for short term.