The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will partner Airbnb Experiences to offer a variety of online tourism experiences to global audiences amid the ‘new international tourist climate’.
In a news release, STB and Airbnb said they signed a two-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Thursday (Oct 22) to ‘co-promote and grow a range of experiences’ hosted by locals on the Airbnb Experiences platform.
Airbnb describes the Experiences platform as one that allows customers to partake in ‘one-of-a-kind activities designed and hosted by locals’. Examples include guided museum tours, dance classes and cooking sessions with locals.
“Airbnb Experiences and STB will jointly drive quality travel experiences in Singapore as well as encourage Singapore tourism industry players to digitalise and pivot towards innovative hybrid business models,” the news release said.
The partnership with Airbnb Experiences is, “a timely one”, said STB Chief Executive, Keith Tan.
“As travel gradually resumes, we want to focus on strengthening Singapore’s brand image in the minds of audiences around the world, and ensure that our destination remains top-of-mind,” he continued.
“This partnership will also give passionate Singapore hosts a world-leading platform to reach out to quality travellers globally, while helping them innovate and explore new business models,” he added.
Virtual Tours & Data Sharing
STB and Airbnb Experiences have developed and launched Singapore Virtual Trips, a ‘collection of online experiences hosted by iconic Singapore tourism industry partners and featured on a dedicated landing page of the Airbnb platform’.
It will include a sustainability-themed tour of Gardens by the Bay’s Cloud Forest, a virtual visit to Peranakan home museum The Intan and an interactive bingo tour of the one-north tech precinct.