Airbnb Shares Statistics from Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS)

At last week's Mekong Tourism Forum 2018 in Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, Mich Goh, Airbnb’s Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, said that Airbnb had welcomed 5 million inbound guest arrivals to the Greater Mekong Subregion ( Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam) in 2017.

This marks a significant growth of 147% year-on-year (y-o-y). These guests contributed a total of US$1.67 billion in economic activity and more than 7 million travellers from the region traveled with Airbnb to other destinations.

Mich also shared that:

- More than 60,000 guests on Airbnb traveled consecutively to two or more countries within the region in 2017.

- Of those travelers, almost 50% of them began their intra-region trips in Thailand.

- Topping the list of most popular travel chains (i.e. chain of Mekong countries that guests on Airbnb travel to consecutively) is Thailand-Vietnam, and vice versa. This is followed closely by Thailand-Cambodia, Vietnam-Cambodia and Thailand-China.

On country and region-specific travel:

- Airbnb experienced powerful triple-digit growth in China and Vietnam.

- China: 205% y-o-y growth in inbound guest arrivals, 103% y-o-y growth in outbound guests arrivals

- Vietnam: 145% increase in inbound guest arrivals, 158% y-o-y growth in outbound guest arrivals

- Thailand: Airbnb’s second largest market in the Greater Mekong Subregion after China, welcomed 1.2 million guests alone in 2017

- Myanmar and Laos: Outbound guest arrivals in Myanmar grew 169% y-o-y, while the number of local hosts opening their homes to tourists increased 85% y-o-y. Similarly, outbound guest arrivals in Laos grew 100% y-o-y

- 68% of all guests traveling with Airbnb to the region were under 30 years of age, and 31% between 30-60 years of age.

- 54% of all guests traveling with Airbnb to the region were female , and 46% male.

- The top 10 countries of origin of guests traveling with Airbnb to the region are: China, US, Singapore, Korea, Thailand, UK, Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and France.

During her keynote speech, which you can watch in full - including the Q&A at the end, Mich said, “The Greater Mekong is one of Airbnb’s fastest growing regions, and we continue to grow in the region because tourists increasingly want new, adventurous, and local experiences when they travel. We offer travelers a wide variety of unique quality accommodations across the region, and Airbnb Experiences in three markets - China, Thailand and Vietnam. Airbnb is empowering local hospitality entrepreneurs and strengthening local communities through healthy, sustainable tourism. With travel and tourism growing rapidly, it is critical that as many people as possible are benefiting and Airbnb hosts are providing the type of travel that is best for destinations, residents, and travelers alike in the Greater Mekong.”

Airbnb launched Experiences in Chiang Mai just the day before Mich's presentation which took place on 27 June 2018.

“Chiang Mai is one of our fastest growing markets in Thailand, and we believe the introduction of Experiences will continue to support the creative and cultural capital as it continues to grow as a popular travel destination both in the region and globally.”

The Mekong Tourism Forum 2019 will take place in Dali, China.

Airbnb in the Greater Mekong Subregion

See other: Videos from Mekong Tourism Forum 2018.

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