OPINION: Keep the Door Open to Couchsurfing Networks

Ethan Gelber
23 March 2010

There’s apparently a lot to be said for and against what I’ll dub ‘semiformal home-accommodation networks’. That’s a mouthful of a way to describe what a lot of people today simply call ‘couchsurfing.’ It is known as well by many other informal names, but has been increasingly endowed with structure by the advent and proliferation of global branded networks responding to the desires of people ready to stay with locals as guests in their homes… or, of course, be the local hosts themselves.

Some couches are more comfortable than others

When the WHL Group teamed up with Spotted by Locals to launch the Local Travel Movement, one important piece of the growing local-travel puzzle was these home-accommodation networks. They were essential ingredients because of their attention to local travel values.

We were, however, quickly made aware of several valid concerns about these networks, principally how ‘couchsurfing’-style home-accommodation networks are counterproductive (especially to local travel) since they “deprive the local accommodation providers of revenue.”

To get a sense of the concern, read these and other similar comments:
* in response to a blog post about Local Accommodation Networks and
* on the wall of the Local Travel Facebook page (scroll almost to the bottom).

A Volley of Support

Following that, I posted an opinion on the Local Travel Movement site: Are Couchsurfing Networks Legitimate Local Travel?.

Subsequent to that, two new reactions joined the chorus: Is Couchsurfing Bad for Locals? on Vicky Baker’s Going Local Travel blog and Couchsurfing Bad for Locals? at Spotted by Locals.

The general tenor of all three posts, as well as the comments on them, has been in support of home-accommodation networks (several reasons have been cited), although many respectfully recognise that the initial criticisms are not necessarily invalid.

The call, however, appears to be one for broad acceptance of a wide range of travel practices satisfying the habits and demands of an enormous panoply of travellers. Yes, there will sometimes be overlapping services and competition, but this is more the exception than the rule.

So what’s the rule? People will always travel according to their preferences. The more those preferences can be serviced while also steering people toward a broader acceptance of responsible and local travel values, the better off we will all be, whether guests or hosts, at home or abroad, mainstream or alternative, or part of formal or semiformal networks. After all, people who start as semiformal and alternative travellers often finish in the formal mainstream. Let’s just focus on making sure they’re mindful and go local every step of the way.