Airbnb pledges donations to Edinburgh tourism fund
It'll offer money for every booking in August
Throughout the month of August, Airbnb will be donating £5 per booking in the capital into a new Edinburgh community fund.
The company has introduced the idea as a way of rebuilding the city’s economy after the pandemic and says it hopes to ensure that locals benefit directly from tourism this summer.
Amanda Cupples, General Manager for Northern Europe at Airbnb, said, “We are determined to do our part to help rebalance tourism in Scotland and to ensure that the return of travel is safe, sustainable and benefits everyone.
“The Edinburgh Community Fund will highlight how each stay can contribute to Edinburgh’s recovery from the pandemic in addition to the money earned by local Hosts or spent by guests in the community.”
The fund is to be managed by hosts and community organisations throughout Edinburgh in order to support local projects in the city.
Edinburgh Council Depute Leader, Cammy Day, said: “It’s absolutely imperative we do everything we can to encourage tourism back into the capital of Scotland.
“We see four million tourists come on an average year and we want to try get that back as soon as we can.
“There are so many businesses here in Edinburgh that are struggling with the lack of tourism, we rely on that a lot particularly during the summer time.
“This initiative from Airbnb is welcomed, it links into the coalitions commitment to deliver a tourist tax, which we are one of the very few cities in the world that don’t have it.
“There is an absolute commitment from the people of Edinburgh to encourage tourists to come and enjoy the capital city.
Airbnb have supported plans for a tourist tax to be implemented and is now calling on the Scottish Government to discuss a mandatory registration system, to help address added pressures over local concerns and to support the sustainable growth of tourism in Scotland.