Airbnb and The Bahamas sign a MoU to promote tourism to the country and launch global Sabbatical campaign

The Government of The Bahamas and Airbnb signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) establishing a framework of mutual collaboration and cooperation on areas of common interest, including marketing promotion and good faith engagement.

Airbnb spotlighted a suite of projects designed to help drive tourism to the country, commencing with today's announcement of The Bahamas Sabbatical - a global initiative that offers five participants a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live like an islander while joining Bahamians in welcoming travelers back to The Bahamas.

The participants will explore the diverse tourism the 700 island archipelago has to offer by traveling to pink sand beaches, one of the world's largest reef systems, and other lesser-known natural areas to help preserve the authentic cultural heritage and natural resources.

"Thanks to this MoU, The Bahamas Sabbatical is a reality, and we are sure this, together with our pipeline of additional projects, will help to strengthen tourism in the country," stated Chloe Burke, Airbnb Public Policy Associate for the Caribbean and Central America. "As any visitor to these shores can attest, the Islands of The Bahamas are indeed idyllic, with otherworldly natural beauty that draws you in, and rich history and fascinating culture that envelops your mind, body, and spirit. We are thrilled to share some of what makes this country so magical with our network of more than 6 million travelers, and help entrench 5 participants in a transformational two-month experience."

The Bahamas Sabbatical follows the Italian and Antarctic Sabbaticals and is the first to launch in 2020 to inspire people to give back to the people and places around them.

Director-General of the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation, Joy Jibrilu, said, “This newly launched Bahamas Sabbatical campaign, an innovative collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism & Aviation and Airbnb, is great for our destination in all aspects. It will enhance our message in the travel marketplace that The Islands Of The Bahamas are open for business, with the net result of driving travel business to our island communities that are working to build a sustainable brand of tourism.”

Airbnb will continue to work with The Bahamas to help stimulate inclusive, sustainable tourism throughout the archipelago. The platform helps to increase the number of tourists who visit the country as well as diversify the tourism sector, bringing guests to areas that have not traditionally benefited from tourism and empowering hundreds of Bahamians through the economic gains home sharing provides.

As The Bahamas' tourism industry continues to flourish, Airbnb, through its Office of Healthy Tourism and its initiatives, aims to encourage environmental sustainability while empowering local people and their communities to be the primary beneficiaries of this economic growth.