FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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 Foreign visitors increasingly use  Airbnb during major tourism events

 Foreign visitors increasingly use  Airbnb during major tourism events

New data shows that travellers to Thailand are increasingly turning to Airbnb for accommodation during big tourism events, according to a report released by the hosting company on Monday.


Last year, Thai Airbnb hosts welcomed more than 100,000 guests and earned Bt380 million combined over three of the Kingdom’s largest tourist events: Chinese New Year, Songkran and Golden Week. 
Family travel made up a significant proportion of all bookings during these periods, comprising about 15 per cent of the total.
As Thailand gears up for Chinese New Year with the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s anticipated 8-per-cent increase in traveller numbers this year, more Thais are listing their homes with Airbnb to welcome local and international guests for this auspicious holiday.
“By opening their homes to guests from around the world, our local Airbnb hosts are being the best ambassadors for their community, while pursuing their passion for hospitality and earning supplemental income on the side. There’s never been a better time to start hosting with Airbnb,” said Mike Orgill, US-based Airbnb’s general manager for Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
During last April’s Songkran alone, Airbnb hosts welcomed more than 45,000 guests from 3,120 cities. 
This tied in with Airbnb’s first-ever launch of unique “Songkran Special” Airbnb Experiences, where guests could book Experiences such as a traditional Thai Songkran ceremony with a Sak Yant master.
There was an almost 50-per-cent increase in guest arrivals year over year during Thailand’s most celebrated and respected festival, with an average of 2.7 guests staying in an Airbnb listing over three nights. 
Hosts collectively earned over Bt95 million over just six days.
Thailand ranks as one of the top most popular outbound destinations among China outbound travellers on Airbnb. 
Over Golden Week in October, Bangkok and Chiang Mai featured in the list of top 10 outbound city destinations for China guests, with Bangkok-Chiang Mai being one of the most popular air-travel routes in the region. 
Guests from China also stayed longer than ever before – the average booking during Golden Week comprised 2.5 guests over four nights, up from three nights in 2017. 
Their top-booked destinations included Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Chon Buri and Surat Thani.

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