Airbnb has announced a contribution of $1 million in funding to support a multi-year local tourism exchange program between Japan and the United States, commemorating the Japan-US Tourism Exchange Year. The program aims to further promote economic opportunities in local regions through the enhancement of tourism between both countries.
From 2024 to 2025, through the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), a professional exchange program by the United States Department of State, 15 to 20 Japanese tourism and hospitality professionals will be sent to the United States. They will stay in local Airbnbs and, with the cooperation of local tourism professionals in the United States, gain insights into local tourism practices. It’s noteworthy that among the Japanese participants of previous IVLP exchange programs, there have been individuals who have served as Prime Minister and current members of the National Diet.
In 2023, users of Airbnb visited over 100,000 cities and towns across more than 200 countries and regions. In the United States, about 600 towns made their first Airbnb bookings, with over 80% of these bookings being in non-urban areas.
Jay Carney, the Global Head of Public Policy and Communications, stated, “Japan is one of our most popular destinations and an important market for our business expansion in the Asia Pacific region. Guests in Japan have begun using homesharing as a way to explore beautiful but lesser-known rural areas, and we are very pleased that our platform can help promote tourism in various regions of Japan. Fostering human connections through travel is one of Airbnb’s core values. This local tourism exchange program is based on that value, aiming to facilitate knowledge sharing among leaders in the local tourism industry.”
