Since the very beginning, Airbnb has been committed to promoting and supporting healthy, sustainable tourism, and they’re seeing a similar dedication to the environment from their guests and hosts ahead of Earth Day.
Last month, Airbnb celebrated the fact that half a billion guests have checked in at vacation rental listings worldwide since the company was founded, and in the last year alone, they’ve had 4.5 million guests check in at eco-friendly listings on the platform. Additionally they’ve seen bookings increase by 50 percent specifically for environmentally-conscious spaces.
Destinations with the highest percentage of eco-friendly listings on Airbnb are all steps away from nature and considered small-town escapes from the hustle and bustle of their surrounding major cities. From a cabin in Norway, a safari tent in South Africa, to a treehouse in Mexico, there is a vast collection of Homes that are reducing the impact on the planet while providing guests the chance to give back to Mother Earth.
Destinations with the highest percentage of eco-friendly listings:
- Broken Bow, OK
- Mazamitla, Jalisco, Mexico
- Lago Puelo, Chubut, Argentina
- Rjukan, Norway
- South River, Ontario, Canada
- Cauquenes, Chile
- Rāmnagar, India
- Thulamahashe, South Africa
- Nykøbing Sjælland, Denmark
- Mhamid, Morocco
Guests on Airbnb can also fuel their affinity for the environment by exploring the variety of Social Impact Experiences that both benefit the planet and introduce them to local experts and advocates in environmental sustainability – either in their hometown or when traveling.
Sharing a sampling below:
- DIY Herbal Skincare & Eco Lifestyle Santa Cruz, CA
- Sustainable Bikesharing Tour Prague, Czech Republic
- Barefoot Earthing Experience – Muskoka Washago, Canada
- Sustainable Brussels Walking Tour Brussels, Belgium
- Cultural Interchange in a sustainable local farm Trinidad, Cuba
- Sustainable cooking workshop Edinburgh, UK
- Eco-friendly Lifestyle in Urban house Pune, India
- Sustainable Coffee Tour & wine making Atenas, Costa Rica
- Bali: Rebuilding Bali Coral Reefs Bali, Indonesia
- Sustainable Sewing – Make a Tote Bag Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Airbnb is also working to bring environmentally conscious travel to even more people. For example, Airbnb’s Community Tourism Programme is partnering with My Green Trip, a growing network of eco-friendly travelers dedicated to organizing community clean-ups and sharing sustainable travel habits. This year, Airbnb are committing 5 million euros to support efforts to make travel more authentic and sustainable.
And in China, Airbnb signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Friends of Nature, a prominent NGO focusing on environmental protection issues. Through the MoU, Airbnb will work with Friends of Nature to promote sustainable tourism in China, host a series of lectures to educate the Airbnb community on sustainable tourism, and conduct workshops for hosts on sustainable hospitality standards and practices.
