Ghana is among the top three fastest- growing markets for Airbnb, a home-sharing platform on which travelers are turning to find accommodation in homes.
Although the US-based platform is yet to release absolute figures on the country, Ghana recorded 141 percent growth in the use of the platform to find accommodation.
The platform allows home owners to share their homes with guests, with 97 percent of the revenue going to the home owners.
The other top two countries are Nigeria which grew by 213 percent and Mozambique.
However, South Africa remains the biggest market for Airbnb, taking in two million out of the 3.5 million guests that arrived on the continent using the platform to find a place of abode.
The Head of Global Policy and Public Affairs of Airbnb, Mr Chris S. Lehane, announced the figures at the ongoing Africa Travel Summit at Langa in Cape Town, South Africa.
Mr Lehane observed that across the continent, what is known as townships (Zongos) had not been opened to international travelers but said when done respectfully, it could create opportunities for local communities in a diversified way.
He said the platform was not meant to compete with hotels but rather complement their work.
With growing fears that technology would take over the world, he said tourism was one of few sectors across the world that would still rely on people for service delivery.
He said the platform was bringing people together across the world, citing the more than 3.5 million people in Africa who opened their doors to strangers as a unique example.
Source: Reuters
