Airbnb’s Direct Impact In India Around $150 Mn In 2018

A survey released by online accommodation marketplace Airbnb on Monday stated that the direct economic impact they had on India in 2018 was around $150 Mn (INR 1,035 crore).

The total estimated guest spend in India for the year stood at $120 Mn, with guests spending about $61 per day (INR 4,168) of their stay on average. Around 42% of guest spending, said the survey, occurred in the neighbourhood where the guests were staying. Hosts at Airbnb India welcomed a total of 800,000 guests over the year, with total earnings of around $120 Mn (INR 190 Cr). Globally, Airbnb had a direct economic impact of a cumulative $100 Bn across 30 countries.

Commenting on the survey results, Airbnb India Country Manager Amanpreet Bajaj said that their people-powered community thrived on the success of both its guests and its hosts. “While we strive to give travellers truly unique, tailored travel experiences, Airbnb is also empowering people to monetise their homes and passions to become hospitality entrepreneurs, across the country and around the world,” he said. 

Established in 2008, Airbnb’s online accommodation marketplace allows guests to experience unique stays around the world and provides hosts with an extra source of income. With a presence in 191 countries, Airbnb offers over six million unique accommodation choices across 100,000 cities. Guests can also enjoy local activities and interests by signing up for over 30,000 unique experiences managed by hosts in over 1,000 experience marketplaces worldwide. The experiences, which are uniquely available on the Airbnb platform, include food and beverage tastings, walking tours, shopping tours, cooking lessons and more.

The survey, which featured over 288,000 responses (of which 2,244 were from India), revealed that 51% of Airbnb hosts state that taking in guests has helped them afford the places they stay in. Moreover, 50% of the guests stated that booking an Airbnb accommodation helped them save money by not going to a hotel, while 86% of guests said that their main reason for choosing an Airbnb accommodation was the convenient location.