Indians go couch-surfing around the globe

Mumbai-based Aparna, 29, is holidaying in Singapore these days. It is the 21st country she is visiting since she quit her job as a marketing professional five years ago and logged on to ‘couch surfing’, which allows her a home stay with other travellers around the globe (on their couch, if need be, and hence the moniker).

In India, couch surfing is increasingly becoming popular among the young with a desire to travel. There were over 26,000 Indian couch surfers at last count, spread across cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Lucknow, Vadodara and Jaisalmer. Over 10,000 of these signed up in 2009.

 

“When I sit with a Lonely Planet coffee table book, I wish I could see a zillion other places. Couch surfing helps me do that,” says Aparna.

According to couch surfing aficionados, the experience of sharing homes with one another is certainly superior to a conventional hotel stay favoured by the typical tourist, and much cheaper.

The man behind the concept is Casey Fenton – an American – who realised during his travels that he did “not want to stay in a hotel and play Mr Tourist”. That led to the birth of couch surfing in 2003.

Ajendra Samal, an Orissa-based IT professional and a couch surfer, says hosting guests has helped him get ahead in his career.

“In my current work, I interact with Americans and Europeans. After hosting a few people from different countries, I got better at handling my clients since I was able to communicate with them better,” says Samal.

The average age of couch surfers in India is 30, which is at the higher end of the age bracket of the typical global surfer (25-30 years). For every one female, there are about five male members in India.

The site is currently managed by Couch Surfing Inc — a non-profit organisation.

To make the process of couch surfing safe and secure, there is a verification process for new members. This is done through a payment of $9 (Rs 415) – referred to as a donation – using a credit card.

The members then get a verification card sent to their postal address. This means that the person is reliable and others can confidently host, and surf with, him or her. The surfer is at liberty to choose whom he wants to host.