By Choekyi Lhamo
DHARAMSHALA, Feb. 21: The Beijing Olympics’ sponsor Airbnb has hundreds of listings for rent in Tibet and East Turkestan (Ch: Xinjiang), two regions where China has heavily been accused of committing human rights violations. According to Free Tibet with verified reports from AFP, the online platform has seen growth in the Chinese market with around 700 accommodation listings in these politically sensitive regions. The US-based company is one of the biggest backers of the Olympics with a reported $500 million sponsorship deal which is estimated to be running until 2028.
“They include about 380 listings in the north-western Xinjiang region, where Beijing has allegedly imprisoned some one million Uyghurs as part of a crackdown on religious extremism. A further 300 are in neighboring Tibet, where campaigners have long accused the government of religious repression and cultural erasure,” the detailed report by AFP read. The company was also urged to withdraw from Olympics sponsorship by a coalition of 150 human rights groups last year.
The online renting platform links travellers with hosts for accommodation and makes money through charging service fees. The firm has been vocal about progressive issues in the US including the Black Lives Matter movement, but is yet to criticize China for its alleged genocide in East Turkestan. Airbnb in response said that it had a “long-term partnership” spanning several Olympics and had spoken to the IOC about “the importance of human rights”.
The statement read that it operated “where the US government allows us to” which has a “rigorous process … to help ensure we follow applicable rules.” Airbnb further said that China was “an important part of our purpose to connect people from around the world.” The Chinese website for the company said that it will host travellers in Xinjiang trumpet “ethnic-style” rooms in “mysterious and romantic” settings.
Last week, Airbnb reported a $55 million profit for the fourth quarter, reversing a huge loss a year earlier, as its revenue soared above pre-pandemic levels. It rebounded from the global tourism slump caused by the pandemic, with last year’s revenues higher than 2019. Experts have likened companies profiteering off from tourism in these regions as being “complicit in genocidal processes”. Uyghur language activist Abduweli Ayup said companies like Airbnb could be listing homes that were once owned by Uyghurs. “[They] have a responsibility to check where the owners are, and why so many houses are empty,” he remarked.
