Airbnb has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with National Commission for Women (NCW) to enter the tourism sector in the Northeast. The partnership will focus on skill development programmes for women in three states – Meghalaya, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh on a pilot basis. The state commissions will initially train a few women on hosting and getting financial assistance from banks, after which their homes will be listed on Airbnb's platform. On June 8, Airbnb extended a similar partnership with the Maharashtra Tourism Development Center (MTDC) to start associations with local communities and home-owners. After signing the MoU last year, MTDC said the company has registered 500 homes and it is now targeting 1,500 entrepreneurs for training programmes. The MoU was the first commercial partnership the company signed with a state government. The company will focus on Sindhudurg, Palghar and Ratnagiri districts this year. "Through this partnership are aiming to not only reach a larger audience but all create at least 50,000 micro-entrepreneurs in the hospitality sector in the next five years. We are also aiming to build a homestay eco-system in the state and improve the hospitality standards," said Jaykumar Rawal, Maharashtra tourism minister. The first project under the partnership will kick off with Elephanta Island near Mumbai. The island is home to the 6th-century Elephanta caves — a UNESCO World Heritage site, protected by Archaeological Survey of India. Fresh construction is not allowed on the island, which has 1200-1500 homes. Airbnb will identify 35 homestays and train…
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