Data released by Airbnb shows the positive impact the company is having on Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, as well as its impact on 80 countries and 300 cities around the world.

Furthermore, Airbnb has launched a new initiative to drive healthy tourism that benefits communities and welcomes a new Tourism Advisory Board.

Across the world, there are 4.85 million listings on Airbnb in more than 191 countries; 79% of guests say they chose Airbnb because they wanted to live like a local and 89% because it was more convenient than hotel locations.

Globally, 53% of guests using Airbnb said the money they saved using Airbnb was spent at local businesses and 44% said their spending took place in the communities where they stayed, which were spread across cities and beyond hotel and traditional tourist hotspots.

Chris Lehane, Airbnb’s Global Head of Policy and Communications, says: “With travel and tourism growing faster than most of the rest of economy, it is critical that as many people as possible are benefiting and, right now, not all tourism is created equal. To democratise the benefits of travel, Airbnb offers a healthy alternative to mass travel habits that have plagued some cities for decades.”

In South Africa the data for Airbnb shows that:

• SA is home to a vibrant community of hosts who welcomed travellers from over 150 countries into their homes and communities.
• In SA, the typical host earned R24 633 renting out their space for an average of 17 nights a year.
• SA welcomed nearly 830 000 inbound guests last year, and 551 000 outbound guests travelled from SA to other destinations.

Airbnb Cape Town highlights:

• Typical guest arrivals: 350 000.
• Total guest countries of origin: Over 150.
• Typical nights hosted per listing: 27.
• Typical income earned per host: R39 348.
• Number of guests travelling from Cape Town to other destinations: 173 000.

Airbnb Johannesburg highlights:

• Typical guest arrivals: 60 000.
• Total guest countries of origin: 133.
• Typical nights hosted per listing: 24.
• Typical income earned per host: R15 969.
• Number of guests travelling from Johannesburg to other destinations: 168 000.

Airbnb Durban highlights:

• Typical guest arrivals: 40 000.
• Total guest countries of origin: Over 104.
• Typical nights hosted per listing: 13.
• Typical income earned per host: R20 000.
• Number of guests travelling from Johannesburg to other destinations: 36 000.

The new data coincides with Airbnb launching its new Office of Healthy Tourism, an initiative to help drive local, authentic and sustainable tourism in countries and cities globally.

Building on its work to benefit local communities and small businesses through partnerships, programmes and events, Airbnb will expand its efforts to economically empower communities, drive travel to lesser-known places, and support environmentally friendly travel habits with the Office of Healthy Tourism.

Airbnb is also welcoming its first Tourism Advisory Board, which will help shape the company’s long-term vision and activities to ensure Airbnb remains a solution to the effects of overtourism caused by mass travel.

The Tourism Advisory Board includes Taleb Rifai, former Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, David Scowsill, Chief Executive of EON Reality Inc. and former President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, Rosette Rugamba, MD of Songa Africa and Amakoro Lodge and former Director General of Rwanda Tourism, as well as Professor Bob Carr, former Foreign Affairs Minister for Australia and former Premier of New South Wales.

 “These are all leaders with impeccable credentials who have worked to promote healthy tourism. With members from four different continents, we look forward to getting their perspectives to ensure Airbnb remains a solution to overtourism, and to tap their expertise to promote and drive healthy tourism around the world,” concluded Lehane.