Integral to this MoU is a think tank on the sharing economy to be held by Wesgro on 20 October 2017. This event will bring together representatives from various sectors, city, province and national government, as well as industry stakeholders and international and local experts.
The aim of the conference is to explore the shift from the old to the new economy in the Western Cape and to discuss how businesses can adapt and coexist with new entrants like Airbnb. Importantly, Wesgro is focused on ensuring that the province can adapt to the changing economic landscape by harnessing the shared economy in order to boost jobs and economic opportunities.
“Airbnb has been a huge market innovator globally which provides a great opportunity for the Cape. Innovative technology platforms like Airbnb will allow businesses in Cape Town and the Western Cape to gain greater access to global visitors and - if harnessed correctly - can help promote travel to all areas of the Western Cape region.
I believe that our partnership with Airbnb can boost economic inclusion in the province and I am confident that the MoU which was signed last week is going to have a positive impact.” said Tim Harris, CEO of Wesgro.
In addition to the Sharing Economy Think Tank, the MoU will also see Wesgro and Airbnb partner with regions across the Western Cape to promote and build accommodation capacity around regional events. The initiative aims to provide more capacity in areas that lack sufficient accommodation, thereby encouraging more people to attend the event and stay longer, discovering the gems the Province has to offer. This can help to provide a boost for local tourism.
As the official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency for Cape Town and Western Cape, Wesgro is excited about this partnership with Airbnb, and is confident it will help attract tourists to the Cape and drive them across the province while simultaneously strengthening the sharing economy overall.