Dominica and Airbnb sign agreement to promote tourism and home sharing on the island

Nature’s Cabin is a unique, five-star rated home that provides visitors with an authentically local experience in Dominica. Promoting sustainable tourism and economic empowerment in Dominica is paramount to Airbnb.

Roseau, Dominica, December 3, 2018.  The Discover Dominica Authority and Airbnb (a home sharing platform), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate on areas of common interest. By promoting the destination to a wide range of travelers through the platform, the agreement will ensure home sharing continues to thrive as a healthy addition to the local tourism sector, helping support economic growth and benefit Dominicans.

“Discover Dominica Authority is pleased to partner with Airbnb to couple the Nature Island experience with home sharing as an accommodation option in the destination,” stated Colin Piper, Director of Tourism and CEO of the Discover Dominica Authority. “The shared economy space allows hundreds of Dominicans to supplement their income while providing diversification in the Dominica experience to visiting guests.  Many lasting memories are forged by travel, and home sharing allows visitors to experience the destination like a local while staying within safe communities. We look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship with Airbnb moving forward.”

Hundreds of locals list their homes on Airbnb, with a typical Dominican host earning approximately $1,500 USD annually. This modest but important source of income helps support families on the island. Over 2,000 guests stayed in Airbnb listings in Dominica between July 2017 and July 2018, with guests staying an average of 4 days, longer than average for Caribbean visitors. This activity has allowed local hosts to earn supplemental income and offer guests an authentic Dominican experience.

The mystique of the mountainous island nation draws both curious adventure seekers and those desiring a relaxing respite. Natural hot springs and tropical rainforests create the backdrop for unforgettable experiences such as river tubing, whale and dolphin watching and even volcano snorkeling.

 

“Airbnb is proud to partner with Dominica, we look forward to working with the Discover Dominica Authority to help drive tourism to this stunning destination brimming with unique, memorable experiences,” said Carlos Munoz, Airbnb Campaign Manager, Public Policy and Communications for The Caribbean and Central America. “Our platform helps to increase the number of tourists who visit Dominica, and diversify Dominica’s tourism sector; bringing guests to areas that have not traditionally benefited from tourism and empowering hundreds of Dominicans through the economic gains home sharing provides.”

The new partnership between Airbnb and Dominica comes on the heels of the news that Airbnb and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) have strengthened their regional partnership, and is yet another pillar in Airbnb’s architecture aiming to drive tourism in the Caribbean. In recent years, Airbnb has signed collaboration or voluntary tax collection agreements with 14 countries in the region.

Airbnb will continue to work with governments to help stimulate inclusive, sustainable tourism throughout the Caribbean. As the tourism industry in Dominica grows, Airbnb, through its healthy tourism initiatives, aims to encourage environmental sustainability while empowering local people and their communities to be the primary beneficiaries of this economic growth.

About Airbnb

Founded in 2008, Airbnb’s mission is to create a world where people can belong through healthy travel that is local, authentic, diverse, inclusive and sustainable. Airbnb uniquely leverages technology to economically empower millions of people around the world to unlock and monetize their spaces, passions and talents to become hospitality entrepreneurs. Airbnb’s accommodation marketplace provides access to 5+ million unique places to stay in more than 81,000 cities and 191 countries. With Experiences, Airbnb offers unprecedented access to local communities and interests through 15,000 unique, handcrafted activities run by hosts across 1,000+ markets around the world. Airbnb’s people-to-people platform benefits all its stakeholders, including hosts, guests, employees and the communities in which it operates.

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13 Comments

  1. Anthony P. Ismael MInister of Free Pmapers
    December 11, 2018

    As this ventures becomes more successful in Dominica and visiting tourist begin to migrate away from hotels and into home sharing, I’m waiting for the big shots to convince the government curb this paradigm shift, so that they can maintain the strangle hold on the little economy that’s left on island.

  2. Anon
    December 10, 2018

    Only slaves pay taxes. Remember that and think about it. The elite controller pay no taxes, they only collect…..from everybody that they can.

  3. carltymas
    December 10, 2018

    This is great news. We need this. Promotion is something our tourism industry have been missing. Not just through government initiatives but by every Dominican in every corner of this earth.

    PS. Please refrain from responding about the limitations of air access and facilities. Why? Because I have travelled the globe, countries with one way in, one way out access, limited air access, small airports and sometimes, yes, even no airports. But what makes it work for them is how the country is promoted. Sometimes these countries have nothing extravagant working for them but people are intrigued because of all the talk generally lead by locals.

  4. jeff
    December 8, 2018

    All you hear is Dominica has so,so many rooms to let but no way of getting people to the island. How are people going to come and go with minimum fuss and delays when they don’t have better transportation system. Lets not start on the highways.

  5. World's Moistest Jheri Curl
    December 7, 2018

    An “authentically local experience” isn’t a home in the mountains surrounded by lush forests
    Most Dominicans live in urban areas
    Sen Joe, Grandbay, Roseau etc is what an “authentic” experience looks like

    • Badbaje
      December 8, 2018

      Good morning all. This authentically local experience is authentic local to those in the area. Those in the city areas have a different “local” experience, they are different. I can only take it the person who is writing the article is local to this area, so I will look at it from that perspective and hoping others will as well.

  6. Karl Orndem
    December 7, 2018

    not necessary for the countru to sign any document. With or without the government people doing their air bnb regardless.

    • Anon
      December 8, 2018

      What you have to ask as “why is the government signing a contract with Air bnb, which is Google?

  7. Didi
    December 7, 2018

    What about taxes like what hotels have to pay so air bnb golfers Will also pay room rental tax??

    • Modern times
      December 7, 2018

      ahh whatever yo :-x

    • Anthony P. Ismael Minister of Free Pampers
      December 7, 2018

      Individuals who rent their homes should pay the taxes to the government, since it’s counted as earned income.

      • Anon
        December 8, 2018

        Don’t Dominicans pay enough taxes to the govt. with the 15% VAT and the port taxes?

      • don2fresh
        December 10, 2018

        Anon you speak like Dominica is riddled with Taxes. Where have you been to and there are no taxes? I swear, reading some DNO comments have me questioning the authenticity of the reasons why people oppose this current government. Oh “15% VAT and Port Taxes”. Tell me more about our taxes. Our oh so many high taxes, that are killing Dominican’s pocket.

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