Chile and Airbnb sign first research agreement in South America

Airbnb and the National Productivity Commission of Chile (CNP) signed an agreement to exchange technical information and collaborate in a study, in conjunction with other organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank. The study will analyze current regulations and develop proposals for collaborative platforms to boost productivity and economic growth in the country. Through this agreement, Airbnb and the CNP will exchange information on a regular basis, focusing on the travel trends of the Airbnb community, laying the foundations for research and development of public policies.

“Airbnb brings to the table a new way of democratizing tourism, which translates into unique economic opportunities, growth, and social inclusion in Chile. Basing the development of public policies in data analysis to understand the contributions made to the economy is a crucial matter. The CNP is the first public office in South America that decides to take this line of action,” said Martin Waserman, Regional Manager of Public Policy for Airbnb.

Between 2015 and 2016, the Airbnb community in Chile grew 172%, with 212,000 travelers staying in any of the 22,000 listings on Airbnb.

The Airbnb platform brings travelers and well-being to neighborhoods that traditionally do not benefit from tourism, which means direct economic benefit. For example, a Chilean host earns an average of 950,000 CLP ($1,500 USD) a year, valuable additional income that can be used to help pay bills or for the cost of housing.

The agreement, the first of its kind in South America, was formally undersigned by the Undersecretariat of Economy and Smaller Enterprises of the Chilean government.