Thailand: Airbnb Adds Saraburi to Beyond Big Cities Campaign

Saraburi is Airbnb's latest destination in the Beyond Big Cities global campaign which encourages visitors to travel beyond major tourist centres and have a positive economic impact in the local communities they stay in.

Following the launch of Buriram as the first Thai destination to be featured in the Beyond Big Cities campaign earlier this year, Airbnb showcases Saraburi with the launch of a community-led destination marketing video that highlights its rural beauty, local culture and diverse neighbourhoods.

In addition to the video, Airbnb has also created a dedicated Saraburi page on its website which features information for travellers in Thai and English, including local insights as well as links to Airbnb Stays and Experiences in Saraburi and surrounding areas.

“Airbnb remains committed to investing in efforts to spread the benefits of tourism beyond big cities, in line with the Royal Thai Government’s policies,” said Mich Goh, Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, Airbnb. “We are thrilled to unveil Saraburi as an emerging destination for Airbnb travellers, as it is easily accessible from Bangkok and offers a wealth of local culture and hosts who are passionate to share their homes and way of life.”

In 2018, more than 1.9 million guests stayed in an Airbnb in Thailand, with inbound guest arrivals to Saraburi growing at an estimated 115% year-on-year from 2018.

Saraburi is about two hours by car from Thailand’s capital city and is on the main road which links Bangkok with the north east of the country.

Suttipong Juljarern, Director-General of the Ministry of Interior’s Community Development Department said, “On behalf of the Ministry of Interior’s Community Development Department, we welcome Airbnb in supporting the local community by empowering passionate hosts in Saraburi to share their way of life with international and domestic travellers alike. Through this initiative, we will build a blueprint for other communities to follow, and will provide support so that locals are ready to welcome tourists. This is because we are keen to see the benefits of Thailand’s successful tourism industry reach our local communities, which will help showcase the best our country has to offer and contribute to strong and sustainable local economies.”

Samniang Simmawan, Director of the Social, Economic and Quality of Life Development Subdivision of the Ministry of Interior’s Department of Local Administration added, “Through this collaboration with Airbnb, we are helping Thai homestays – homes that have a maximum of four rooms or can welcome visitors not exceeding 20 – better understand the need of international travellers, as we encourage them to provide travellers with a truly authentic Thai experience. We want to see more Thais start their own homestay businesses and benefit from tourism, and with the support of Airbnb these Thai homestays can now reach millions globally.”

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