Airbnb India head Amanpreet Bajaj: 'Our initiative encourages travellers to explore Goa's diverse offerings'

As part of Airbnb and the Goa Tourism Department's Rediscover Goa campaign, the 'Goa Unseen' guidebook was launched in the presence of Rohan Khaunte, minister of tourism, Goa, Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb's country head for India and Southeast Asia, and Bollywood actor Abhay Deol, who is settled in Goa. 

​In an exclusive interview with THE WEEK, Bajaj talks about Airbnb's plans in Goa. Excerpts: 

1. What inspired Airbnb India to launch ‘Goa Unseen’ and the overall Rediscover Goa 2.0 initiative?

Goa is one of India's most iconic travel destinations, known for its pristine beaches, vibrant culture, and heritage. While most distinctly, the state is known for its beaches, there is so much more to Goa.

For Airbnb, Goa has consistently been the most booked destination in the country. In fact, in 2024, Goa witnessed an increase of over 20 per cent in bookings on Airbnb compared to 2023, with GenZ and millennial travellers leading the charge. This surge highlights the increasing interest in the state as a prime vacation spot for tourists from around the world.

Recognising this potential, we launched the Rediscover Goa campaign in 2022, in collaboration with the Goa Tourism Department, to showcase the state's deeper, more nuanced character by highlighting its rich cultural diversity, hinterlands, and local experiences. The launch of the ‘Goa Unseen’ digital guidebook is the next chapter in our collaboration with Goa Tourism Department to spotlight the state, and its uniqueness beyond the conventional tourist hotspots. Through ‘Goa Unseen’, we want to invite travellers to look beyond the familiar and discover its unique cultural aspects that are truly reflective of Goa, as a destination. 

2. How does this initiative align with Airbnb’s vision for experiential travel in India? 

Airbnb's approach to experiential travel in India is all about creating meaningful connections between travellers and local communities. The 'Goa Unseen' digital guidebook embodies this philosophy, transforming travel from the mere consumption of destinations to an immersive journey that allows travellers to experience everything a destination has to offer. With this guidebook, we have gathered insights from seven local experts like renowned actor Abhay Deol, culinary maestro Avinash Martins, GoaGetterr founder Garv Vohra, travel writer Insia Lacewalla, food writer Nolan Mascarenhas, TV host and content creator Scarlett Rose, and artist and content creator Siddharth Kerkar, to offer travellers a fresh, authentic, and more nuanced understanding of Goa that goes beyond the typical experience.

The guidebook has been designed to cater to a broader trend in travel—a shift from passive tourism to active, meaningful exploration. Today's travellers, especially GenZ and millennials, are actively seeking experiences that are culturally rich, immersive and personally transformative. Increasingly we are seeing that travellers are becoming more thoughtful and conscious about the way they travel and prefer to make a positive contribution to the local communities they visit. Our goal is to facilitate these connections, by enabling travellers to understand a destination's soul through the eyes of its locals, and diverse cultural experiences. Through the ‘Goa Unseen’ guidebook, we hope to make way for a more respectful approach to travel that can benefit both travellers and local communities.

3. What role does the Goa Tourism Department play in this initiative? 

This launch marks the next chapter in our longstanding partnership with the Goa Tourism Department within the overarching Rediscover Goa campaign. We launched this campaign in 2022, through a formal MoU to jointly promote Goa as one of the most sought-after high potential tourism destinations in India and around the world. This partnership has been instrumental in reshaping Goa's tourism landscape, by creating an inclusive, and community-driven tourism model.

Now with the addition of the 'Goa Unseen' digital guidebook, together with Goa Tourism Department we want to bring focus onto the lesser-known side of Goa, to help travellers uncover the soul of the state through its hidden cultural treasures and heritage gems. 

4. How will actor Abhay Deol contribute to this project, and what unique perspective does he bring?

Abhay Deol brings a deeply personal and authentic perspective to the ‘Goa Unseen’ digital guidebook. Having made Goa his home for the last two decades, he offers invaluable insights that go beyond the usual. As a celebrated actor and avid explorer, Abhay is passionate about offbeat, immersive and experiential travel, and for him Goa is the perfect destination that offers a unique blend of all three. 

Abhay's unique perspective is shaped by his exploration of Goa and the hidden gems he has uncovered over the years – from lush forests to serene beaches to unique local experiences. Through the Goa Unseen guidebook, Abhay has showcased the Goa that he loves and is proud to call his home, inviting travellers to discover their own versions of this beautiful state. 

5. What has been the impact of Airbnb on Goa’s tourism landscape so far?

Goa is a key priority for us, and the impact of our initiatives is evident in the response we are seeing in the state. Goa is consistently a popular choice of destination amongst both international and domestic tourists. In 2024, Goa witnessed an increase of over 20 per cent in bookings on Airbnb compared to 2023, with GenZ and millennial travellers leading the charge. Domestically, travellers from Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Jaipur, Indore, Kochi, Bhopal and Vadodara are topping the chart for bookings in Goa. For international travellers, Goa was the most booked destination on Airbnb in India in 2024.

Additionally, our work with Goa Tourism Department on capacity building amongst hospitality entrepreneurs across the state has seen great success. Since we launched our first Entrepreneurship Academy in India in Goa in December 2024, we have empowered over 50 hospitality entrepreneurs across the state with resources and training to enhance their offerings.

As we move forward, we will continue to work collaboratively with the Goa Tourism Department, to showcase Goa's rich cultural heritage, promote responsible tourism and ensure the economic benefit of tourism reaches as many local communities as possible.

6. How does Rediscover Goa 2.0 promote responsible tourism and eco-friendly travel in Goa?

Rediscover Goa 2.0 invites travellers to uncover a newer side of Goa, that's rich in heritage, artistry and local tradition. Increasingly, we have noted that travellers are actively seeking more personal and unique ways to experience a destination. In 2024, South Goa saw a 25 per cent increase in Airbnb bookings compared to 2023, reflecting a growing interest among travellers to go beyond the familiar. Through Rediscover Goa 2.0 and the ‘Goa Unseen’ digital guidebook, we are committed to highlighting a lesser-known side of Goa, dispersing tourism to places beyond the popular hotspots and promoting more responsible and conscious tourism in the state. The guidebook highlights several off-beat activities that emphasise community engagement and authentic local interactions. For instance, food journalist and entrepreneur Nolan Michael Mascarenhas recommends a bee-keeping experience in Benaulim, while travel writer Insia Lacewalla suggests visiting ecological sites like the Mystic Woods Butterfly Conservatory and enjoying moonlight kayaking at Bambolim Beach. These experiences invite travellers to immerse themselves in a different Goa. By featuring activities that celebrate Goa's rich cultural heritage and vibrant local communities, the initiative encourages travellers to appreciate the state's diverse offerings and connect with its true essence.

7. Does Airbnb have plans to expand similar initiatives to other Indian states with rich cultural and natural heritage?

We have been actively partnering with state governments across India to drive community-led tourism and ensure its benefits reach local communities. Our partnerships with various local governments, including Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, as well as organisations like SEWA (Self-Employed Women's Association), are building on our strategic approach to promote tourism beyond traditional destinations, and communities.  Empowering local hosts and dispersing tourism benefits more evenly across regions. These initiatives aim to highlight lesser-known destinations and expand tourism’s economic impact beyond traditional hubs.

Tourism