HBI Staff | Hyderabad 
Based on a first-ever analysis of Airbnb and OpenStreetMapdata, the data demonstrates the value Airbnb listings bring to underserved communities, allowing new destinations to be explored by tourists keen to take the road less travelled.
The pandemic caused unprecedented disruption to global tourism, causing international visitor numbers to plummet by more than 70 percent. On Airbnb, we saw a profound shift in travel habits away from international trips and city breaks towards domestic travel and extended rural stays.
Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager for Airbnb India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said, “This study demonstrates that without home-sharing, these economic opportunities for small communities and their businesses might be lost entirely. Guests have the ability to travel to many more places by using Airbnb, as compared to hotels that traditionally are located in higher-traffic areas.”
How Airbnb Disperses Travel in India and the world
In 2022, guests stayed in over 100,000 different cities and towns globally, and the top 10 most-visited destinations on Airbnb accounted for around 7 percent of all trips, compared to 10 percent in 2019.
The number of communities globally where guests stayed increased by over 25 percent in 2022 compared with five years ago, spreading tourism to new and different destinations.
Since March 2020, more than 13,000 cities globally received their first booking on Airbnb. In India, there were nearly 100 cities and towns with their first booking on Airbnb since March 2020.
Top Booked Indian Cities & Towns with Their First Airbnb Booking since March 2020
- Narmada, Gujarat
- Bidar, Karnataka
- Purnia, Bihar
The Importance of Domestic Tourism
Domestic tourism has proved to be resilient in times of crisis and an option of a more immediate and positive economic impact to local economies. A weekend trip to a near destination to home is not only easier to plan but also much more affordable.
Airbnb has proven to be an option that can help develop this type of tourism by providing a more affordable option for accommodation, and by expanding the accommodation offerings in more and new destinations.
In India, the number of domestic nights booked doubled in 2022 compared with 2019.
Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager, Airbnb India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan continues, “Distributed travel offers sustainable and affordable alternatives that create a positive impact on the local economies and communities. Unlike traditional travel that concentrates tourism in specific areas, causing overcrowding, congestion and tensions, Airbnb is helping disperse guests, tourism income, and benefits to new and trending destinations, even those without hotels. We recognize the challenges posed by mass tourism trends and are committed to investing in solutions that not only help alleviate these challenges but also allow guests to explore new communities and create additional income opportunities for the locals.”
