From Access to Empowerment: Transforming Tourism through Digital Skilling and Community Engagement
Explore Airbnb’s key learnings from past projects in bridging the digital divide and fostering rural development across Asia Pacific destinations.
Industry and civil society partners are spearheading capacity-building projects across the Asia Pacific region, emphasising the crucial role of community intervention and digital skilling. These initiatives create significant economic opportunities by driving growth, fostering micro-entrepreneurship, and enhancing connectivity. In turn, they enable rural and underserved regions to attract tourists, create jobs, and generate additional income. With the right tools and knowledge, communities can better navigate the evolving tourism landscape and benefit from the industry's multiplier effect.
To further the goal of digitalising tourism and empowering local communities, Airbnb has joined hands with organisations like SPARK Philippines, the Internet Society Foundation, and Global Himalayan Expedition. Their efforts focus on capacity building, digital skilling, and fostering sustainable tourism in the Philippines, Nepal, and India, respectively.
Experts from these organisations came together in a recent PATA webinar hosted by Airbnb to delve deeper into the partnered initiatives. This blog focuses on the key tips, best practices, and solutions for overcoming obstacles that were shared in the session.
During the discussion, Joyce Dogniez, Internet Society Foundation’s Vice President of Empowerment and Outreach, emphasised that to effectively introduce internet access, organisations must first establish connections with communities, such as through local leaders. Additionally, it is crucial for organisations to step forward and overcome cultural barriers that might pose challenges to introducing the internet and the wide range of opportunities it offers. In other words, solutions to address issues like locals’ scepticism about the internet—such as guidance on how to safely navigate the web—must be integrated into the development programme.
While providing internet access is the first step, introducing the right tools and skills to ensure effective use is equally important. One initiative of the Airbnb Entrepreneurship Academy, held in Quezon City, exemplifies collaboration between the public and private sectors to provide locals, particularly women, with digital literacy and hospitality management skills. According to Maica Teves, Executive Director, SPARK Philippines, this project significantly boosts participants’ self-confidence, allows them the freedom to build their own entrepreneurial networks and enhances their economic independence in the long run.
Beyond building access and skills, organisations can help communities leverage their unique cultural aspects by adding value and emphasising cultural nuances. Simarpreet Kaur, Lead of Community Tourism at Global Himalayan Expedition, remarked that by enhancing the presentation of local elements such as cuisine and the environment, organisations can foster locals’ pride in their cultural heritage. This approach encourages communities to sustainably innovate and showcase their uniqueness.
The transformative impact of digital skilling and community intervention in the tourism ecosystem is evident, highlighting their pivotal role in driving local economies and creating opportunities for rural and underserved regions. By fostering inclusive development and addressing challenges through targeted capacity building, organisations can help these communities thrive and harness the full potential of the tourism industry.
This blog is inspired by the PATA x Airbnb Webinar "Unlocking Economic Opportunity Through Community Intervention and Digital Skilling: A New Approach for Tourism Capacity Building in Asia". We sincerely thank the speakers who shared their expertise and experiences regarding this topic on the webinar:
Asmita Joshi, Head of Public Policy, India & South Asia, Airbnb
Maica Teves, Executive Director, SPARK Philippines
Joyce Dogniez, Vice President, Empowerment and Outreach, Internet Society Foundation
Simarpreet Kaur, Lead-Community Tourism, Global Himalayan Expedition
PATA Members, access the full webinar recording at the PATA Info Hub.
