- After the United States relaxes international travel restrictions, Airbnb is expected to benefit significantly from the increase in travel demand.
- The latest data from Airbnb shows that after the United States announced its reopening to foreign tourists, foreign bookings increased by 44%.
- A travel expert told Insider that this is just the beginning of the steady growth of the tourism industry in the coming year.
- For more stories, please visit www.BusinessInsider.co.za.
this Reopening the U.S. border to international tourists It reveals pent-up travel demand, which has prompted a surge in bookings by hotel companies such as Airbnb.
According to recent data from Airbnb, bookings from foreign guests have increased by 44%. Preliminary announcement The United States will relax restrictions on international travel to 33 countries/regions starting on November 8. In a report shared on Tuesday, the company said that cross-border travel has increased and that there has been an increase in guests booking trips more than 3,000 miles from home.
Many of these trips are to the United States, which “has historically been the world’s largest inbound tourism market.” Airbnb wrote in the report. “As countries around the world begin to relax travel restrictions, we are seeing a sudden increase in interest in these countries.”
Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst at Atmosphere Research, told Insider that he expects the pace of recovery in the coming months to be “a bit like a roller coaster.”
Harteveldt said: “We may see a surge in demand now, and may surge again around Christmas.” “I really expect 2022 to be a year of steady and gradual improvement in business, with more people coming from abroad.”
The report found that domestic bookings are also increasing, and bookings for the Thanksgiving week alone have increased by 40%, because Americans want to spend time with their families during the holidays as the national vaccination rate increases.
With the increase in travel demand, Cumulative number of trips to TSA checkpoints It is approaching the level reported at this time in 2019, which is more than twice the level reported in 2020.although Air travel declines in late summer, Harteveldt said airlines are satisfied with the advance bookings they have seen from international sales points outside the United States.
Expect the arrival of international tourists A major boost to the local economy Industries including tourism, retail, and hotels have suffered during the pandemic. According to Harteveldt, because international tourists “tend to spend money near where they live,” global tourists may bring in large amounts of spending before the holidays.
Although Airbnb can attract travelers to find new places to change scenery or work from home during the pandemic, Harteveldt said the company still faces some challenges as it continues to recover from its losses during the pandemic.
One of these challenges is to meet the booking demand, because the company unilaterally rebuilds the relationship with the landlord The landlord returns the travel deposit to the customer At the beginning of the pandemic blockade.In addition, some consumers are Possible Covid-19 winter surgeIf the restrictions may be re-imposed in the future, this may add another obstacle to the recovery of the tourism industry.
Harteveldt said: “Airbnb employees still face some challenges, and the category will not be smooth sailing.” “But I think from a marketing point of view, Airbnb is financially prepared to compete with the business, and I think it is attracting customers Will be successful.”
