2 THRIVE Edition 2 A global first: Supporting a diverse and inclusive tourism economy On 21 September 2021, Airbnb announced a new three-year commitment in South Africa to address barriers to becoming a tourism entrepreneur, and to help rebuild a more inclusive and resilient domestic tourism economy. The commitment, focused on infrastructure, training and investment, builds on Airbnb’s 2017 USD $1million commitment in Africa to boost community-led tourism projects, and the Africa Academy, which has trainedmore than 300 Hosts who earnedmore than R2.8 million in 18months*. Building a stronger andmore sustainable tourism industry in South Africa will take collaboration from all stakeholders, including Airbnb, and will require balanced and evidence-based regulation. In June, Airbnb set out its support for a simple, online and proportionate national registration system in South Africa as part of a five-point plan to re-boost tourism in the wake of the pandemic, and promote an inclusive and sustainable future for tourism. Three new commitments will widen and support inclusion in the tourism economy by supporting existing tourism entrepreneurs, helping remove barriers to entry, and enabling a new generation of South Africans to benefit from the tourism economy, as travel returns following the pandemic. 1. Infrastructure – Tackling digital and financial accessibility With less than half of South Africa’s rural population connected to the internet**, digital exclusion poses a significant barrier to entry for many potential tourism entrepreneurs. To tackle the digital divide, Airbnb has partnered with Ikeja, a company focused on providing fast, affordable Wi-Fi to townships. Over the next two years we will work together with Ikeja to provide at least 100 Airbnb Academy Hosts and their communities with freeWi-Fi. Each of these 100 Hosts will become aWi-Fi hotspot within their community, giving 100’s of others access, resulting in a powerful network effect. 2. Training – Empowering a new generation of tourism entrepreneurs Since Airbnb launched the Africa Academy in 2017, it has trained more than 300 entrepreneurs in Townships and rural areas, who earnedmore than R2.8million in 18months*. In a global first, Airbnb has partnered with the University of Johannesburg School of Tourism and Hospitality to expand the Airbnb Academy program to at least 1000 students over the next three years. The first cohort participated in the programme for four weeks in October. Third year student in Food and Beverage Operations, Lee-Ann Duma, won the UJ 2021 STH Airbnb entrepreneurship challenge. The challenge involved coming up with an experience to be hosted on the Airbnb platform. Lee-Ann has won R7500 voucher to use on Airbnb and will be treating her family this December In addition, Aibnb will work with partners to take the Academy tomore communities in South Africa, including working with the Public Private Growth Initiative and theWaterbergmunicipality to run the Academy in the District Development Model pilot. Airbnb To read the full article, click here
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