Airbnb Now Inviting All Travelers to Cuba, Not Just Americans
The company has been beating the bushes there for a year.
— -- Airbnb, the community-driven hospitality company, will soon be open in Cuba for business to travelers from around the world, not just Americans.
Only U.S. travelers have been able to book housing through Airbnb in Cuba for about a year. But now the U.S. government has granted special permission to the Silicon Valley tech company to provide accommodations to the rest of the world, beginning April 2.
President Obama, who made a historic visit to Cuba this week, has vowed to ease U.S. restrictions on the island nation.
Airbnb says it has been going door to door for a year now, recruiting houses to join its community across 40 cities and towns in Cuba.
Cuba is the fastest-growing market in the company’s history, with over 4,000 houses being added to Airbnb’s database in the past year, the company says.
Hosts can make up to $250 in U.S. currency per booking, which is considerable when compared to the $20 the average Cuban makes in a day.