Airbnb and Aruba sign MoU to drive sustainable tourism through home sharing
On February 6th, Airbnb and the Aruba Tourism Authority signed an agreement to continue to cooperate to drive sustainable tourism in Aruba through home sharing. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focuses on establishing a framework for discussions regarding taxes, facilitating consistent stakeholder meetings, and sharing useful aggregated data.
From left to right: Carlos Muñoz (Airbnb Campaign Manager for the Caribbean and Central America), Xiomara J Ruiz-Maduro (Minister of Finance, Economic Affairs, and Culture of Aruba); Danguillaume P Oduber (Minister of Tourism of Aruba); Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes (CEO of the Aruba Tourism Authority).
“Aruba has experienced sustained growth in our tourism sector over the last several years and we feel that in working with Airbnb, we can reach a whole new segment of tourists who are interested in living like local Arubans while experiencing a different side of our island,” stated
Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes, CEO of the Aruba Tourism Authority.
Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes, CEO of the Aruba Tourism Authority.
Through Airbnb, tourism in Aruba is more accessible and inclusive. In 2018, Airbnb hosts brought approximately 47,200 guests to Aruba with an average trip length of about six days. These travelers were welcomed by 940 hosts who opened their doors to offer locals and foreigners alike a unique travel experience.
The home sharing community in Aruba is a growing component of the local tourism industry and an important asset to the island’s GDP. A typical Aruban host had an annual earning of USD 9,200 last year, a 77% increase since 2017.
Arubans also choose Airbnb when traveling
In 2018, 5,100 Aruban guests stayed at Airbnb listings both in Aruba and abroad. “Our goal is to work together to drive more sustainable and unique tourism to the island, help make Aruba a regional leader in the sharing economy and continue to position Aruba as a world-class tourist destination,” continued Ronella Tjin Asjoe-Croes.
Airbnb has been developing partnerships in the region to support a thriving community of homeowners who are renting their spaces and creating new flows of local economic benefits. With its strong partnership with the CTO, Airbnb is steadily working to drive tourism in the region and expand economic opportunity by promoting authentic travel throughout the Caribbean.
To date, 18 collaboration or voluntary tax collection agreements have been signed throughout the region.
“Aruba is an important partner, and we are pleased to continue working together to develop a strong, democratized tourism industry through home-sharing, where Arubans benefit directly,” said Carlos Munoz, Airbnb Campaign Manager for the Caribbean and Central America.
Total Airbnb Guests Arrivals in Aruba: 47,200
Number of hosts: 940
Percentage of female hosts: 51%
Money received per year by a typical host: USD $9,200*
Total listings on the platform: 2,300
Total Departures of Guests through Airbnb (Arubans abroad): 5,100.
* Typical host earnings represents the median income of the hosts in Aruba during the period between January 1 and December 31, 2018
