The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamas’ latest partnership with Airbnb is designed to further boost post-Dorian tourism and encourage locals to develop sustainable cultural and environmental offerings, officials said yesterday.

Joy Jibrilu, the Ministry of Tourism’s director-general, said the tie-up with the vacation rental network’s “Global Sabbatical” campaign will offer a “once in a lifetime chance” for five international volunteers to spend two months in The Bahamas in collaboration with the National Trust.

Speaking at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and Airbnb, Mrs Jibrilu explained: “Today we launch a brand new initiative called the Bahamas Sabbatical Experience.

“Through this uniquely designed experience, Airbnb in collaboration with the Bahamas National Trust, will officer five selected international volunteers a once in a lifetime chance to become a resident Bahamian insider and help locals create sustainable programmes rooted in island culture and environmental awareness.

“A key profile trait of the 21st century traveller is the desire for authentic, transformative experiences. In collaboration with the Bahamas National Trust, Airbnb, through the Bahamas Sabbatical Experience, will offer the five volunteers a two-month stay in The Bahamas during which time they will participate in three volunteer activities in conjunction with locals, on designated sustainable activity, on three islands: Exuma, Andros and Eleuthera.”

Mrs Jibrilu said the five volunteers’ “three-island adventure in sustainable, community-based activities will be thoroughly covered and broadcast to travel consumers worldwide”. She added: “Applications for this experience are open for a three-week period between January 28 to February 18. The selection process will also take place over three weeks from February 18 to March 10. The two-month ‘Sabbatical’ experience will run from April 1 to May 29.”

Chloe Burke, Airbnb’s public policy associate for the Caribbean and Central America, said: “Since the signing of the previous MoU we have launched Airbnb Experiences, where hosts offer one-of-a kind activities for guests.

“We have collaborated with the Bahamas Out Island Promotion Board on sharing opportunities for boutique hotels, we have collaborated with the Tourism Development Corporation on a number of initiatives including our successful entrepreneurship lab, and offered on-island office hours with the Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association.

“This year we expect to have continued success in exploring collaboration with the Bahamas Development Bank as well as the BHTA on education initiatives, in which Airbnb will bring employees of colour to schools to share about their careers in tourism from various backgrounds, including law and engineering.”

Airbnb, in a statement accompanying the new initiative, added: “The participants will experience The Bahamas in a new way as they work alongside Bahamians to bolster once-vibrant industries and preserve natural resources to help transform a country that depends on visitors’ spending.