Airbnb and Duolingo partner to enhance cultural travel to Japan and South Korea

Dec 13, 2023 | News On Japan

Dec 13, 2023 (traveldailynews.asia) - With India‘s GenZs and Millennials showing surging interest in travel to Japan and South Korea, and an increased appetite to learn Japanese and Korean, Airbnb and Duolingo are launching a unique campaign that provides travelers with an extraordinary opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich cultural tapestry of these two unique countries.

The program aims to reduce the language barrier that often impedes deeper cultural immersion, and equip travelers with essential language skills to enhance their appreciation and understanding of local customs and traditions.

The spike in language learning on Duolingo perfectly aligns with the increased searches for local stays on Airbnb, demonstrating a desire amongst Indians to break down the language barriers and engage in more meaningful connections with the local communities while traveling to Japan or South Korea. Recent Airbnb data has revealed a significant uptick in travel interest to Japan and South Korea. Airbnb has seen an almost 75% growth in searches for Airbnb stays in Korea and almost a whopping 300% increase for stays in Japan. Concurrently, Duolingo has reported a notable trend in language learning preferences among Indians, with Japanese and Korean emerging as some of the most popular languages learned on the platform. Globally, Japanese ranks as the fifth most learned language, while Korean has jumped to the sixth position, as highlighted in the 2023 Duolingo Language Report, which tracks the world’s biggest trends in language learning. The report also indicated a remarkable 75% year-over-year growth in Korean language learning among learners in India. This parallel rise in travel and language interests underlines a growing fascination with Japanese and Korean cultures among Indian travelers.

Building on these trends, Airbnb and Duolingo are teaming up to transform the travel experiences in Japan and South Korea, targeting the language barrier that often impedes deeper cultural immersion. This collaboration seeks to equip travelers with essential language skills, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of local customs and traditions. ...continue reading

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