Airbnb Signs Two-Year MoU With India's Ministry of Tourism

Government partnerships like this one shape how Airbnb builds supply in a large growth market, particularly in homestays outside established tourist hotspots.

Airbnb has signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding with India's Ministry of Tourism to strengthen the country's homestay ecosystem and support emerging destinations. The collaboration will include workshops, training resources and destination promotion aimed at homestay owners, local communities, artisans and tourism professionals.

Airbnb will also feature "Soul of India," a website highlighting lesser-known destinations with distinctive cultural heritage.

Union tourism and culture minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said: "India's tourism landscape is evolving rapidly, with travellers increasingly seeking authentic experiences that allow them to connect more deeply with our culture, heritage and local communities." He added that the partnership "presents an important opportunity to bring lesser-known destinations into the tourism mainstream while creating new avenues for homestay owners, local artisans, young tourism professionals and communities to participate in and benefit from the tourism economy."

The agreement forms part of the Ministry's wider push to encourage travel beyond traditional hotspots.