Airbnb Reports 61% Increase in Guests in Phuket, Thailand

Airbnb has reported that guest arrivals in Phuket, Thailand, reached 320,000 in 2018 – a growth of 61% year-on-year.

Airbnb’s top guest origin markets to Phuket include China, United States, Russia, Hong Kong, Singapore and United Kingdom.

Mike Orgill, General Manager for Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan - Airbnb, said, “Airbnb's proposition is diverse and complements Phuket's current offerings. Airbnb travellers are not your average tourist, they are looking for something different and unique, whether it’s a modern villa, a creative boutique hotel or a traditional homestay. 79% of our guests book with us because they want to live like a local, and when they travel they spend in the local neighbourhoods and communities they visit. It's this type of guest that is adding a new and positive dimension to Phuket, and is being welcomed by a large part of the island's tourism economy.”

Last year, Airbnb saw an 152% increase in the number of rooms in properties around the world that hosts categorized as boutique hotels, bed and breakfast, hostels and resorts.

In Thailand, Airbnb signed a MOU with the Thai Boutique Accommodation Trade Association (TBAA) in September 2018 to load more than 50 boutique hotels across 15 provinces, including Phuket, Bangkok, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Kanchanaburi and Sukhothai.

Opening the platform up to hotels has made it easier for hospitality entrepreneurs to access new revenue streams.

Speaking of their success using Airbnb, Vorakarn Wattasoontorn, Director of Sales at Glam Habitat, said, “Prior to listing on Airbnb, most of our customers were from within Thailand. This has now changed. Airbnb has helped us reach out to international markets and we are now welcoming more international guests to Glam Habitat than ever before. Airbnb guests are looking for new types of accommodation and travel experiences, and now they can choose boutique hotels such as ours. This is a growing trend and something that fits well with our unique offering.”

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