Airbnb, Gujarat pact to enhance travel experience of tourists

New Delhi, Sep 23 Home-share booking site Airbnb has partnered with Gujarat government to enhance travel experience of the tourists, both domestic and international, visiting the state and also boosting the tourism sector there.

"Gujarat ranks among the top states in India for us, both in terms of listings and growth. We will work together to bring homestays and travel options in the state onto an international platform," Airbnb India Country Manager Amanpreet Bajaj told PTI.

He added that the two entities will work together to boost tourism and create positive travel experiences for both domestic and international visitors in Gujarat.

Gujarat is a vibrant attraction to tourists in India and abroad, enriched with its cultural nuances as well as the hospitality of its local populace, he said. "Airbnb and Gujarat government will come together to assist homestays to come onto our global platform.

We will also hold educational and sensitization sessions on 'hosting standards and best practices' for current or potential hosts of homestay facilities and unique properties in Gujarat," he added.

Airbnb will also help provide information to its users on less-explored but high potential destinations in Gujarat to promote tourism to these destinations.

The San Francisco-based firm is confident of manifold growth in its business in India over the next few years, driven by a surge in volume of travellers using its platform and increase in number of listed properties. About 17,000 properties are now listed in India with 115 per cent growth being seen in listing in 2015 from the previous year.

In terms of travellers (bookings), there has been 185 per cent increase in travellers from India and 184 per cent increase in bookings in India (in-bound) in 2015 from the previous year.

The Indian travel market is set to pass the USD 40 billion dollar mark by 2020, according to industry reports.

PTI