The benefits of tourism are spreading across the Asia-Pacific region as the travel rebound continues to unfold. In Southeast Asia, a resurgence in domestic and inbound tourism is enabling locals to earn and stay afloat, new analysis by Airbnb shows.
Neighborhoods that have traditionally missed out in the past are increasingly able to capture a larger share of travel as people continue to adopt flexible new travel and lifestyles, according to a new report from Airbnb ‘Farther afield: Spreading the benefits of the travel revolutionAcross the region, this opens up new opportunities for locals looking to increase their incomes as they deal with rising living costs.
Across Asia Pacific, Airbnb booked in non-urban areas in South Korea (up over 180%), India (up ~140%) and Australia (up ~60%) in Q2 2022 compared to Q2 2019 The number of nights stayed has increased. In Southeast Asia, searches for accommodation in Siquijor in the Philippines soared by more than 280%, while searches in Marang, Malaysia nearly doubled.
Over the same period, typical incomes for non-urban landlords in some destinations increased accordingly. In Australia and South Korea, typical host incomes more than doubled as tourism returned in full force. In the Philippines, nearly half of local Airbnb hosts surveyed said Their income helps them cope with the rising cost of living Including housing, daily necessities, and home improvement needs.
Not only do travelers set their sights on off-the-beaten-track destinations, but they also want to stay longer. Notably, the number of nights booked in non-urban areas (over 28 days) in popular travel and remote work hotspot Thailand in the second quarter of 2022 roughly doubled compared to the pre-pandemic period in the second quarter of 2019 .
In the second quarter of 2022, in Southeast Asia, some destinations outside major metropolitan centers were popular with Airbnb travelers for long-term stays. Examples include:
- Dapa, Panglao, Dumaguete and Serang in the Philippines
- Ipoh, Kuah, Semenyih and Port Dickson Malaysia
- Koh Phangan, Koh Lanta and Krabi Thailand
Mich Goh, head of public policy for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Airbnb, said: “More than two years since the start of the pandemic, we continue to see fundamental changes in travel that are creating new opportunities for isolated communities. Seeing travelers so keen to explore new destinations, and the positivity generated by locals The economic impact is unbelievable.
“The growing popularity of Dapa, Panglao, Dumaguete and Silang reinforces the importance of the Ministry of Tourism’s initiative to promote rural tourism and promote lesser-known destinations. We are committed to continuing to work with governments and stakeholders to continuously inspire travelers to get off the beaten track. and help ensure that more communities can share in the benefits of tourism.”
In addition to encouraging travelers to explore further afield through innovative search tools such as category And I’m flexible, Airbnb remains committed to working with governments and communities in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. The company has partnered with tourism authorities in Thailand and Indonesia on a series of “Live and Work Anywhere” initiatives to attract global digital nomads and remote workers as part of a broader push to boost inbound tourism.
Readers can view the full report here https://news.airbnb.com/further-afield/.
