Airbnb Survey: Hosts Use Revenue to Cover Rising Costs and Emerge as Key Contributors to Local Economy

Bangkok, Thailand – Airbnb is releasing the first results of its latest survey* of Hosts and Guests around the world. Findings from surveyed Hosts in Thailand, who used the platform last year, provide insight into how Hosts use their Airbnb earnings in an era of runaway inflation, emerging as key contributors to the local economy and build strong connections with people.

Mitigating Rising Costs with Hosting

As external forces pushed up inflation around the world last year, revenue generated from accommodation became a key element in meeting the rising prices of hosts in Thailand. In response to a question about why they host their place on Airbnb:

• Nearly 35% of hosts surveyed in Thailand said that one of the reasons they host is to earn money to help cover the rising cost of living.
• Nearly a third said they host to make money to make ends meet.
• More than half said they host to earn extra spending money.
• Nearly half said they host to make money to grow their business.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the food price index has risen steadily over the past year, reaching a record high in March 2022. Against the backdrop of rising food prices daily necessities, nearly 45% of Thai hosts surveyed said they use income generated from accommodation to buy food and other necessities which have become more expensive. In Thailand, the majority of hosts surveyed said they use the money earned from hosting to improve their place.

Hosts surveyed also indicated that they expect accommodation revenue to become more important, with more than 45% saying they expect to become more dependent on accommodation revenue. host over the next 12 months.

Hosts are key contributors to their local communities.

In addition to guest-generated vacation revenue and local guest spending, Thai hosts surveyed also contribute to tourism revenue in Thailand:

• Nearly two-thirds of respondents say they hire support staff such as professional cleaners.
• Hosts also like to share recommendations with their guests on restaurants and cafes (85%), outdoor sites and activities (two-thirds), lesser-known areas and places to visit (60%), and shopping and shops (nearly half), among others. .
• In fact, more than three-quarters of Thai hosts surveyed recommended places travelers should visit in and around their Airbnb neighborhood.

People to People Connection – Accommodation to meet people from different cultures

Nearly 35% of hosts surveyed in Thailand host on Airbnb to meet people from all over the world. Nearly a third of hosts surveyed want to connect with people from different countries to learn more about their culture and share more about Thai culture with them.

_{*Based on a survey of 87,070 Airbnb listings booked between June 1, 2021 and December 31, 2021. All additional host-centric survey data in this report comes from this survey.}