Kerala State Homestay and Tourism Association to get US fillip

Kochi: Kerala State Homestay and Tourism Association (Kerala HATS) has partnered with US-based firm Airbnb to promote rural and homestay tourism. The partnership will support members of Kerala HATS in attracting more tourists and bringing in more professionalism to the sector. Airbnb is an online marketplace which enables people to list, find and then rent vacation homes. The firm has more than 1.5 lakh listings in 34,000 cities and 191 countries.

There will be a session at the eighth annual conference of Kerala HATS to be held on September 3 in Kochi on Airbnb’s plans to boost business for Kerala homestays.  “Only a very few operators of the more than 400 members of Kerala HATS have a professional approach to find and invite guests,” said M.P.  Sivadathan, director of the organisation. “A tie-up with Airbnb will help all operators to get more business through a professional network.” The business tie-up will be between Airbnb and the operators with no direct involvement of Kerala HATS.

The annual conference will also have sessions on ‘professionalism in homestay business’, FRRO C-form submission procedures, and debates on improving the homestay and serviced villa sector.  Actor Dileep will inaugurate the conference which will be attended by Prof. K.V. Thomas MP, Dr.V. Vijaya Kumar, principal, KITTS, Thiruvananthapuram, MLAs, civic body members and top officials of the tourism and local self government department.