Bangkok--4 Apr--TQPR
New data from global hospitality platform Airbnb shows a significant surge in guest arrivals, host income and occupancy for the week leading up to Songkran (11-15 April 2018), one of the most celebrated festivals.
Thai hosts on Airbnb are set to earn USD$5 million from opening their homes this Songkran, a 20% increase in host earnings compared to a typical week in Thailand. This is a result of the projected number of 35,000 Airbnb guest arrivals into the country, marking an unprecedented 20% jump in inbound growth. Travellers are staying an average of 16 days on the platform during Songkran, three times longer than the typical booking on an average weekend.
The famed hospitality shown by Thais has played a huge part in exciting and inspiring travellers to visit the Land of Smiles, particularly in celebration of its most revered national festival. With more than 61,000 listings across Thailand, Airbnb allows travellers to find the perfect accommodation to help them live like a local. Airbnb also sees travellers returning to Thailand year after year for Songkran, with 33% of guests being repeat bookers on the platform.
Mich Goh, Airbnb Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, said the strong figures reinforce how Airbnb can scale up accommodations and help better manage large increases in demand during major events, while ensuring spillover economic benefits are felt by local residents outside of traditional tourist areas.
"We are very excited to see that more and more Thais are opening their homes to visitors from all over the world, wanting to help travellers enjoy the authentic Songkran experience," shared Goh. "Airbnb is helping to diversify tourism and empower local Thai Airbnb hosts to earn supplementary income, and helping travellers discover and fall in love with new neighbourhoods and communities.
"Major events like Songkran bring much business to locals who share their space or own home. In addition to traditional accommodation, Airbnb provides extra capacity to host more travelers keen to access local neighbourhoods and experience an authentic hospitality experience. With Thailand growing rapidly as a strong tourist destination, there's never been a better time to become an Airbnb host. It's simple to create a listing and start earning extra income."
Tatiya, an Airbnb host since 2013, shares how much she enjoys welcoming travellers into her home. "Sometimes, I enjoy the company so much I have to pinch myself for the fact I can earn some income from doing what I love; I get to cook, hang out with fun travellers and share more about the Thai culture. Life is good!". She is also an Airbnb Experience host on the platform. One of her Airbnb Experiences became so popular that she has since quit her full time job and have hosted home-cooked dinners for more than 60 groups over the past two years.
"My passion for cooking comes from watching my mom cook for our family, and I'm glad I get to share it with travellers from around the world." This year, she is part of the Songkran Airbnb Experiences, which are exclusive activities for the month leading up to Songkran (19 March to 15 April). Here, locals and travellers can connect and immerse themselves in activities that are authentically Thai and relating to this new year holiday.
Notably, the popularity of Songkran is growing globally, and not just in Asia Pacific alone. Data from Airbnb shows travellers from the United States and United Kingdom making up the top two nationalities visiting the country this Songkran, representing approximately 15% and 10% of total visitor arrivals respectively.
Top visitor arrivals by nationality
1.United States – 15%
2.United Kingdom – 10%
3.China – 9%
4.Australia – 7%
5.Russia – 6%
6.Singapore – 6%
7.Malaysia – 6%
8.Thailand – 5%
9.Hong Kong – 5%
10.France – 5%
With Thailand increasingly becoming the go-to travel destination globally, there's no better time for locals to start sharing their homes and hosting. The announcement of Airbnb's latest Roadmap also features a revamped Superhost program that gives locals in Thailand even more reasons to list their homes on the platform and deliver magical experiences to every traveller. In Thailand and around the world, Airbnb Experiences are also flourishing with a 2,500% growth in 2017; Airbnb sees the rise of travellers and hosts wanting to do good through Social Impact Experiences, e.g. local Thai cooking Experience by The Courageous Kitchen.
Additional statistics for Songkran 2018
Top booked cities in Thailand
1.Bangkok
2.Chiang Mai
3.Ko Samui
4.Phattaya
5.Phuket
6.Hua Hin
7.Rawai
8.Patong
9.Kathu
140.Bang Ao Nang
Top booked neighbourhoods in Bangkok
1.Silom
2.Din Daeng/Huai Khwang
3.Upper Sukhumvit
4.Lower Sukhumvit
5.Sathorn
6.Klong Toey
7.Aree
8.Siam
9.Pathum Wan
10.Ratchathewi/Phaya Thai
Average group size & trip length
- Average group size: 3 guests
- Average trip length: 16 days
About Airbnb
Founded in 2008, Airbnb's mission is to create a world where people can belong when they travel by being connected to local cultures and having unique travel experiences. Its community marketplace provides access to millions of unique accommodations from apartments and villas to castles and treehouses in more than 65,000 cities and 191 countries.
With Experiences, Airbnb offers unprecedented access to local communities and interests, while Places lets people discover the hidden gems of a city as recommended by the people that live there. Airbnb is people powered and the easiest way to earn a little extra income from extra space in a home or from sharing passions, interests and cities. For more information on Airbnb, visit www.airbnb.com .