Short-term rental app Airbnb has signed an agreement with the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine committing to market local tourism after the war with Russia ends as well as "the exchange of analytical and statistical information."
The memorandum commits the two to "joint marketing activities to promote the tourist potential of Ukraine - providing online publications and distribution of promotional photo and video content of tourist-attractive destinations," the state agency said.
The agency offered few details on their agreement to share info, simply calling it a "priority area of cooperation. Airbnb, however, did say in its own press release that it had signed an agreement to offer the Ukrainian city of Lviv, which has become a hub of foreign activity due to its location near the Polish border, "data insights, remitted tourist tax revenue, compliance tools" and other tools as part of the company's "City Portal" program.
Airbnb says its "City Portal" agreements with 300 cities around the world commit the company to offer data on local short-term rental markets, remit tourist tax revenue where applicable, and supply tools to ensure compliance with local laws.
The company added that it has provided free shelter, either from its own resources or through hosts on its site offering their accommodations, to 130,000 Ukrainian refugees since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of last year.
The tourism marketing agreement was signed by State Tourism Development Agency of Ukraine head Maryana Oleskiv and Airbnb co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Nathan Blecharczyk in a meeting at the Consulate General of Ukraine in Munich.
