An Airbnb program will teach individuals about the riches of a small UNESCO World Heritage Site for three months. The company will cover flights and will allow volunteers up to €900 each month. The destination is Grottole, which is a small village in southern Italy.
The Airbnb program seeks to revive the town, restoring "the village's cultural center, in addition to filling out [more than 600 vacant] homes." In the first month, individuals will learn about Grottole's culture, the language, and cuisine. They will also explore the points of interest in the region such as the 10th-century castle, wine cellars, and more. In the remaining two months, the Airbnb program will ask participants to "co-host stays" with not-for-profit Wonder Grottle, introducing more people to the brilliance of the town.
Photo Credits: Airbnb
Enriching All-Expenses-Paid Excursions
This Airbnb Program Ships Individuals to Grottole, Italy
Trend Themes
-
Community-led Regeneration — The program's emphasis on restoring the village and involving locals can inspire similar community-led regeneration efforts globally.
-
Experiential Tourism — The popularity of Airbnb's immersive program presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the experiential tourism market.
-
Sustainable Travel — The Airbnb program's focus on sustainability and responsible tourism presents disruptive innovation opportunities in the eco-friendly travel market.
Industry Implications
-
Hospitality — Hotel chains can implement similar immersive programs in partnership with local communities to provide authentic experiences to their guests.
-
Real Estate — The success of the Airbnb program can inspire real estate developers to focus on regenerating neglected areas instead of building new ones, attracting tourists and boosting the local economy.
-
Cultural Conservation — Non-profit organizations working on cultural conservation can collaborate with travel companies to create sustainable tourism programs that both educate and support the preservation of cultural heritage sites around the world.