Airbnb reports increase in bookings at less well known destinations in Thailand

Thursday, 16 May 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Airbnb has reported an increase in bookings at some of the less-well-known destinations across Thailand.

Powered by travellers seeking more local and authentic experiences, Airbnb has reported that in 2018 the number of guest arrivals visiting such places in Thailand grew by 53% year-on-year.

Chiang Rai was one area with substantial growth, reporting an increase of 90% in the number of bookings. Hat Yai, near the Malaysian border, reported an increase of 214%.

With up to 97% of the listing price going directly to Airbnb hospitality entrepreneurs, and almost 50% of guests’ spending occurring within the neighbourhoods where they stay, the financial benefits of this tourism growth can be significant.

Airbnb’s Head of Public Policy Southeast Asia Mich Goh said the data reinforced how Airbnb was helping grow tourism right across Thailand.

“Just as important as growing tourism is making sure that the benefits of tourism are dispersed beyond big cities and major tourism destinations. This new data shows that Airbnb is not only growing local tourism - but spreading this growth all across Thailand. With Airbnb, more people and places share in the enormous benefits of tourism. More Airbnb guests going off the beaten track means more income and jobs in local communities,” Goh said.

The data also revealed that more hospitality entrepreneurs – home sharers, and small, independent, and boutique hotel owners – in these less well known areas are turning to the Airbnb platform as a way to promote their properties to travellers from Thailand and the world.

In 2018, some of the areas with the highest year-on-year growth in active listings in Thailand included: Nakhon Sawan – 167%; Trang – 84%; Hat Yai – 65%; Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya – 66% and Chumphon – 61%.

Airbnb is actively looking to expand the number of listings that it has in secondary destinations, and an announcement is expected to be made next week about a new collaboration that will address this.