Airbnb has big plans for South Africa

Airbnb recently announced that it plans to expand further across the African continent, and that South Africa is a big part of this plan.

As part of this drive, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky is attending the Global Entrepreneurial Summit in Nairobi, and from there he will visit South Africa to discuss the company’s local plans.

These growth plans come off the back of it doubling its size in Africa, while the number of people staying in Airbnb listings in the region has increased by 145%.

The number of Africans using Airbnb to travel has also increased by 139%.

“I’m excited to see how Airbnb will empower people across the continent to make extra income while providing travelers with a truly authentic experience,” said Chesky.

To help spur additional growth in Africa, Airbnb has appointed Nicola D’Elia as General Manager for Middle East and Africa.

Previously, Nicola was responsible for Facebook’s growth and partnerships in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. D’Elia will build a team to accelerate Airbnb’s growth in the region.

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