MTDC, Airbnb to create 1,500 tourism entrepreneurs in Maharashtra

Photo Courtesy: GoingBeyond

The Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and Airbnb is planning to create 1,500 tourism entrepreneurs in the state. The Tourism Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme aims to attract a larger global audience and boost tourism in Maharashtra.

“After signing an agreement for Tourism Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme with Airbnb last year we already have 500 hosts enrolled on the community-driven hospitality company’s platform generating regular income. We are targeting to create 1,500 entrepreneurs in villages through the programme this year,” said Maharashtra Tourism Minister Jaykumar Rawal told reporters here.

The programme aims to make every home under this programme a micro-information centre, where tourists can avail the best guidance from their hosts including sightseeing, best places to eat, best modes of transport among others related to the area.

In 2018-19, Tourism Entrepreneurship Accelerator Programme with Airbnb is focused in Sindhudurg, Palghar and Ratnagiri districts. “We are also planning to focus on Elephanta village in this programme this year. We aim to create a micro-entrepreneur in each village of these districts,” said Maharashtra Principal Secretary VK Gautam.

said, Airbnb is committed to create 50,000 hospitality micro-entrepreneurs in India and the Accelerator Programme is a major step towards realising this. In the first year, we expanded to 500 hosts across the state. Now we are planning to expand this programme in a phased manner with focus on particular regions and ultimate across the state,” said Chris Lehane, Global head of policy and communications, Airbnb.