YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 16, ARMENPRESS. Starting now, the Armenian LikeLocal.io platform offers the opportunity to travel to Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Argentina, and several other countries, allowing travelers to attend local events and immerse themselves in the authentic culture, experiencing the local customs firsthand.

In a conversation with Armenpress, Gevorg Babayan, co-founder of the LikeLocal startup, highlighted that foreigners can similarly explore over 40 host families in Armenia through the platform.

"With over 20 years of experience in tourism, I've witnessed various tourist experiences worldwide. The culmination of my expertise is the LikeLocal.io platform, offering genuine access to reality. Often, travelers limit themselves to visiting popular tourist destinations, missing out on a comprehensive understanding of the host country. Our platform addresses this issue by facilitating visits to locals' homes for meals, celebrations of birthdays, weddings and everyday occasions, allowing travelers to truly immerse themselves in local life and customs," explained Babayan.

He pointed out that the core issue lies in the lack of authentic experiences, a longstanding problem in the tourism industry that has become more pronounced in the digital era, where genuine communication is often lacking. Moreover, with travel becoming increasingly common in everyday life over the past decade, people seek alternative experiences beyond traditional tourist spots.

"The frequency of travel leads to monotony; people grow weary of structured, artificial activities. They grasp the history of a country while overlooking its people," remarked Babayan, the platform's co-founder.

The website, optimized for mobile use, caters to both hosts and travelers, allowing travelers to select their desired destination country and choose a host based on personal preferences. Hosts, upon registration, provide information about themselves and can then post events for interested participants.

"We operate in Armenia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Argentina, Namibia, the Philippines, Nepal, and Jordan, with registered hosts also available in Georgia. It's important to note that hosts have the autonomy to cancel events or decline guests. While the customer is typically seen as always right, we aim to address this issue in the sector," Babayan added.

Acknowledging Armenia as a challenging market, Babayan noted their success in the country, boasting over 40 hosts across Armenia, from Syunik to Yerevan and Kond. He mentioned the willingness of many Armenians to host tourists free of charge but stressed the necessity of implementing a payment system to positively impact the sector. Despite challenges related to digital literacy, the platform accommodates all users.

"We provide an opportunity for locals to interact with foreigners and exchange ideas, bridging the communication gap. Studies indicate that conventional travel often fails to change perceptions of a country and may even reinforce stereotypes. I believe connecting with locals can address this issue," Babayan commented.

The platform stands out in the market, as there are no comparable platforms. The startup's concept emerged in 2019 and launched in 2022, receiving investments from EU4Business and the Ministry of HTI through the "Idea to Business" program. Currently, the team consists of five members.

"In the near future, we plan to expand to other countries and, overall, revolutionize the tourism sector," stated the founder.

Gevorg Babayan concluded that everyone involved in the field of tourism should be able to derive value while contributing value themselves.

Karine Terteryan

Photos by Gevorg Perkuperkyan