New Communities Land Trust, an organization founded in 1969 to provide a safe haven for black farmers, has launched the Southwest Georgia Agri-Tourism Trail, "a collection of extraordinary stays and experiences on Airbnb throughout southwest Georgia," according to a news release.
The tourism trail will be led by Shirley Sherrod, a co-founder of the project and a U.S. Department of Agriculture Equity Commissioner, Airbnb said.
The program will enable local farmers to generate tourism revenue by participating as Airbnb hosts, while also giving visitors an educational experience about the history of the area, as well as present-day challenges facing black farmers, Airbnb said.
The New Communities Land Trust is headquartered at Resora, which used to be a plantation owned by one of the largest slaveholder estates in Georgia. Resora, which is situated on more than 1,600 acres, is home to an early 19th-century mansion, an active farm, an agricultural research lab, and multiple guest cabins.
“When New Communities acquired Resora over a decade ago, we envisioned it as a place where we could farm the land, nurture the minds of people and empower our community," Sherrod said in a statement. "I look forward to the possibilities that this new partnership will bring to our members, the rich stories that will continue to be passed on through guests, and the type of relaxation and restoration that only being in nature can provide.”
As of 2019, approximately 1.1 million businesses in the U.S. were minority-owned, representing around 18.7% of U.S. businesses, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Almost 21% of businesses, or 1.2 million, were owned by women. The number of Hispanic-owned businesses increased to 6% in 2019, representing a growth of around 4.6% from the previous year. There were approximately 581,200 Asian American business owners and 134,567 black business owners as of 2019.
According to Airbnb, over the past century, black farmers in America have lost over 12 million acres of farmland due to discriminatory policy and business practices.
“Travel has long opened new doors to discovery – and the very nature of hosting lends itself to telling stories, sharing traditions and understanding history firsthand," Catherine Powell, Global Head of Hosting for Airbnb said in a statement. "We are so pleased to launch the Southwest Georgia Agri-Tourism Trail with Shirley and the New Communities Land Trust, not only to introduce these families to hosting, but also the global Airbnb community to the past, present and future of black farming.”