US / Ukraine: Airbnb and the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine have signed a memorandum of understanding [MoU] to support incoming tourism in the post-war period.
Head of the State Agency for Tourism Development in Ukraine, Mariana Oleskiv, and Airbnb co-founder and chief strategy officer, Nathan Blecharczyk, met at the Consulate General of Ukraine in Munich to sign the MoU.
Oleskiv said: “Airbnb’s initiative to provide free temporary housing to 130,000 refugees from Ukraine was a significant support for us. After the victory, we would like to express our gratitude and show our hospitality by inviting the whole world that stands by Ukraine to visit us.
The memorandum of understanding signed today actually proves our intentions to jointly restore the tourism industry of our country,” she added.
Nathan Blecharczyk, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Airbnb, said: “Hosts on Airbnb are the heart of our community. This, of course, includes hosts in Ukraine.
“Although minimal tourism is possible in Ukraine today, it is important to set the course for the post-war period now. With this joint memorandum, Airbnb commits to support tourism in Ukraine at the end of the war – this is a strong sign for our community on the ground,” he added.
Since the start of the war against Ukraine, Airbnb’s charitable arm Airbnb.org claims to have helped more than 130,000 people find free and temporary accommodation. The stays were funded by Airbnb and other Airbnb.org donors, as well as hosts who offered free and discounted stays through Airbnb.org.
Airbnb.org partnered with more than 40 non-governmental organisations [NGOs] around the world to provide temporary housing for people fleeing Ukraine.
In Germany, Airbnb is working with organisations including PHINEO to support the Ukraine Response Incubator programme this November. On the occasion of the first anniversary of the war, Airbnb also organised a Breakfast & Learn with Ukraine Hilfe Berlin to raise funds for Ukraine.
Since the second quarter of this year, the western Ukrainian city of Lviv has also been using Airbnb’s City Portal – the company’s first partnership with a Ukrainian city for data exchange. The City Portal’s technology offers governments and tourism organisations data insights, remitted tourist tax revenue, compliance tools and centralised access to the Airbnb Neighborhood Support hotline.
More than 300 cities and tourism organisations have partnered with Airbnb to access the City Portal.
Last year, Airbnb collaborated with The Sputniks, Bienvenida, Karuna and United for Ukraine in order to support demographics such as children with disabilities and their families.
In June, to mark World Refugee Day, Airbnb.org announced a series of new initiatives to deepen its support for refugees and asylum seekers, as well as highlight their resilience and ongoing struggles around the world.
