France/Airbnb and rural mayors join forces to boost tourism

A partnership between Airbnb and the Association of Rural Mayors of France should help create tourism in French rural areas neglected by holidaymakers. Airbnb will pay 100 euros to the AMRF for each new accommodation ad posted on the private rental platform.

It's a win-win bet . Since the beginning of the health crisis, tourism has changed its shape. Closed borders, traffic restrictions and various confinements make people want to go green. Airbnb has understood this. Through a partnership with the Association of Rural Mayors of France (AMRF), the company wants to create 15,000 new accommodations by the end of 2021.

The AMRF groups together towns with fewer than 3,500 inhabitants. For each new listing in these towns and villages, Airbnb will pay 100 euros to the AMRF, which will use it to communicate about the partnership and thus encourage residents to rent out their accommodation.

A growth driver for Airbnb

Creating tourism where there is heritage, but no visitors, or very few, is Airbnb's goal. " The majority of remarkable sites in France are located in non-touristy places," explains Emmanuel Marill, European director at Airbnb. Last summer we already saw that Brittany, Alsace, the Vosges, the Jura, the Dordogne, the Creuse had done very well on Airbnb. This year, I think we'll go even further, to more lost, more isolated areas."

The health crisis has indeed changed the tourist practices of the French, who have been enjoying rediscovering the French terroir since last summer, for lack of being able to travel further sometimes. We are in a supply market," says Emmanuel Marill. Imagine a village of 300 souls. There may be one or two properties open for rent today. If tomorrow there are five or ten, they will find holidaymakers for this summer, that's obvious!"

Revitalising rural communities

The partnership is also a springboard for tourism in these rural communes. " We're not stupid," adds AMRF president Michel Fournier. We know that for Airbnb, it's a commercial operation, and for us it's an economic and tourism operation!" For the AMRF, policies are lacking to develop tourism harmoniously throughout France. " If we find an operator ready to accompany us in this direction, we say yes," says Michel Fournier.

The other advantage of the arrival of new holidaymakers, according to Michel Fournier, is the development of the local economy.

"The more people there are who welcome people, the more we will develop the craft industry, the rehabilitation work, the reactivity of the village centres, etc."

For the AMRF, the hope goes even further: if they receive a warm welcome, and the cultural offer is there, these new holidaymakers will perhaps become new inhabitants.

Source: www.franceinter.fr