Beyond Cities: How Airbnb supports rural revitalization in India

Airbnb democratizes tourism by bringing its economic benefits to communities that typically haven't shared in these benefits in the past.

With hosts keeping 97 percent of the listing price, and a global average of 42 percent of guest spending occurring within the neighbourhoods where they stay, the economic impact of home sharing can be significant for typical travel destinations.

As the balance of the global population has shifted to cities, so have government resources and business capital, causing a widening gap in economic opportunity between urban and rural areas.

Airbnb believes, hosting can be a means to bridge this gap by enabling many more people and communities to share in the returns of the tourism boom, not just the traditional hospitality industry.

While their work with cities receives the most attention, their growth beyond cities-including in all 11 countries studied for this report-is outpacing our growth within cities as we work with local governments to support rural revitalization. Home sharing also helps communities welcome more visitors without having to invest in expensive, permanent hospitality infrastructure, including for major events that can bring unprecedented infusions of revenue and put previously little known destinations on the global map.

Airbnb's work in India sums up many of the challenges-but also the greatest rewards-that were encountered in helping areas beyond cities realize the economic benefits of travel. Home sharing is beginning to provide livelihoods in India's rural communities where women in particular face otherwise extremely limited options to provide for themselves and their children.

-ANI