TOURISM
t s e h c e r u s a e r t ism r u o t p i h s n w o t r u O b n b r i A m o r f t s o gets a major bo
A
irbnb will invest US$1 million by 2020 to promote and support community-led tourism projects in Africa. The commitment is part of Airbnb’s vision to empower communities through home-sharing and to promote people-to-people tourism that benefits local families and their communities.
Chris Lehane, global head of Public Policy and Public Affairs for Airbnb, says: “Africa is home to some of the most welcoming communities and breath-taking landscapes on earth. By leveraging technology to boost peopleto-people tourism in Africa, we can help build a new economic engine for local families and their communities, helping more guests to enjoy The investment will be put to while magical travel experiences through the work in 2018 and will focus eyes of locals. Airbnb travel is already on three main areas: delivering significant economic benefits for Africa, and our investment will help • Empowering townships through hosting: As part of Airbnb’s belief that kickstart new benefits for more people across Africa.” home-sharing can support greater economic and social empowerment, Airbnb’s township pilot programme – Airbnb ran a pilot programme earlier in 2017 – together with local partners developed in collaboration with Open Africa, the South African College for – to support training in hospitality Tourism and the Cape Innovation and and technology for residents from Technology Initiative (CiTi) – was the townships across the Western Cape. first of its kind by Airbnb in South Africa Given its success, Airbnb will expand to support underserved communities the programme, which is specifically targeted at women and young people to better their futures through tourism. from underserved communities, to 15 It consists of 10 modules and focuses on everything from exploring how more township communities across people can list their home on Airbnb to South Africa. It will further scale the managing online payments and creating programme to other countries in a compelling guest experience. Since its Africa in 2019. launch, 15 residents – mostly women • Promoting sustainable and inclusive – from townships across the Western tourism through technology: Cape have already participated. The Airbnb’s vision is to use technology to programme is open to everyone, help spread the benefits of tourism, including people who do not own previously kept in the hands of a few, their own homes, thanks to Airbnb’s to many. In May 2018, Airbnb will host co-hosting feature, which allows hosts the Africa Travel Summit in Cape Town to add co-hosts to their account, such and bring together 80 thought leaders as family members or trusted friends, from across the continent to share to help with some of the hosting best practices, exchange ideas and responsibilities. They can help with as co-create a vision for how technology much or as little as is needed, and can can best be used for inclusive and then split the Airbnb income. sustainable tourism growth. • Supporting locals and non-profit With Experiences, Airbnb offers organisations through Airbnb unprecedented access to local travel: Part of Airbnb’s vision is to communities and interests, while Places promote people-to-people travel lets people discover the hidden gems of that helps generate new revenue a city, as recommended by the people streams for more communities. who live there. Airbnb is peopleThis will help more locals to turn powered and the easiest way to earn their passions into economic a little extra income from extra space opportunities, and showcase the in a home or from sharing passions, best authentic experiences that interests and cities. guests might otherwise miss. Airbnb will particularly focus on increasing Home-sharing club social impact experiences – the Airbnb recently pioneered the first proceeds of which go directly to a collaboration agreement between non-profit organisation.
58
www.spotongmag.co.za
a government authority in Africa to encourage local communities to join a Home Sharing Club, made up of locals who open their homes to visitors from across the world. Cape Town home-sharers Mawande Kondlo, Lydia Masoleng, Juliet (Tiny) Gobeni and Maria Maile – who met through the pilot training programme – pioneered this idea locally. As a result, Cape Town is the first African city to have an Airbnb Home Sharing Club.
