For online hospitality services platform Airbnb, the Indian market is of strategic importance as the company targets a global user-base of one billion by 2028 from the current 300 million, according to a company official. “India is one of the key growth markets for us. It is also a strategic priority for the company…and teams across our global offices are working to create a lot of tools for India,” Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s Country Manager for India and Sri Lanka, has said.

Mr Bajaj said that that the online service provider would continue to invest in the medium to long term in the Indian market and so far it provides services for around 100 cities in the country with over 35,000 properties. He added that, “at a global scale, we want a billion people to have used Airbnb by 2028. If this number has to go from 300 million to 1 billion, you can’t keep India out. India will contribute very heavily in this.”

In the process of providing services in the country, the official said partnerships with tourism and other Government departments play a major role. The company has tie-ups with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation and the North East Tourism Development Council.