Couchsurfing, an app that links the travelers looking for free accommodation with the host has more than four million users with 400,000 hosts across the globe. It began in 2004. A central Queensland host used this app to bring her region into tourist trail which was missed out so far. Becky Bowen, another user who has joined little over a year has hosted at least 170 people in her Rockhampton home.
To quote Bowen, “I was like ‘wow’, and all I had done was take her to Mt Archer, Byfield, and just showed her some little areas and she just loved it. We’ve had people who’ve requested to stay for two days but have stayed for a week, but they like that it’s not a busy town, and there still is a lot to do. I generally don’t accept people if they are only staying one night because I want people to experience the town. If you’re only going to come at night and leave in the morning, I’m not going to host you, because that’s not what it’s about.’’
Ms. Bowen while traveling to Cooktown with her two children used this app and said that it’s all about a matter of trust and selectiveness as well.
