Bangkok--18 Dec--Infinity Communications
- Saraburi guest arrivals have grown by as much as 115% year-on-year from 2018
- Top source markets for Saraburi are Thailand, US, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore and Great Britain
- The latest Beyond Big Cities campaign is supported by the Ministry of Interior's Department of Local Administration (DLA) and the Community Development Department (CDD)
Airbnb, the leading diverse accommodation and experiences marketplace, with the support of the Ministry of Interior's Department of Local Administration (DLA) and Community Development Department (CDD), continues to empower local tourism efforts in Thailand as it announced today that Saraburi is the latest destination in its 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 successful launch of Buriram as the first Thai destination to be featured in the Beyond Big Cities campaign earlier this year, Airbnb showcases the beauty of Saraburi with the launch of a community-led destination marketing video that highlights its rural beauty, local culture and diverse neighbourhoods, along with the warmth with which Saraburi hosts are welcoming domestic and international travellers into their homes and communities.
In addition to the video, which can be viewed by Airbnb travellers globally, Airbnb has also launched a dedicated Saraburi page at http://www.airbnb.com/saraburi. The page, which features hyper-local information for travellers in Thai and English, includes local insights as well as links to Airbnb Stays and Experiences in Saraburi and surrounding areas.
Beyond a 'Passage Province': Tourism Growth in Saraburi
Driven by a desire for more unique and authentic travel experiences, more travellers from Thailand and across the world are choosing Airbnb. 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.
Due to its close proximity to Bangkok, as it can be reached within less than two hours with easy road and rail access, Thailand's capital city is a key feeder market for Saraburi. Meanwhile, the top six countries where inbound travellers to Saraburi come from are:
1. Thailand
2. US
3. Malaysia
4. Japan
5. Singapore
6. Great Britain
Driven by a new generation of travelers who embrace the magic that Airbnb brings to everyday travel, travellers are increasingly exploring off-the-beaten-track destinations in Saraburi. Local hosts are proudly sharing their homes, showcasing their neighbourhoods and culture. Based on internal Airbnb data, an estimated 70% of all hosts in Saraburi received Airbnb's maximum 5-star review rating, and local hosts rated their guests an average guest rating of 5 out of 5.
Airbnb Promotes Sustainable Tourism in Saraburi
By harnessing its technology and global reach, Airbnb is helping to strengthen local communities and economies in Saraburi as it promotes sustainable tourism in partnership with local hosts, community leaders and government partners.
"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. 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," shared Mich Goh, Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, Airbnb. "We are looking forward to continuing our collaboration with government and industry stakeholders across Thailand in promoting the country's emerging destinations."
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."
Saraburi and its surrounding areas offer a wealth of interesting Stays and Experiences. Some of these include:
- Baan Baan Home Stay
- Baan Klang Suan
- Clean Farm
- Ban Thida Ruan Thai Rim Nam
- Ban Suan Bua Yoo Pranom Chai
- Duang Yee Whaa Homestay
* based on Airbnb internal data from Jan and July 2019 (semi-annual metrics)
** Suttipong Juljarern was previously the Director-General of the Ministry of Interior's Department of Local Administration (DLA). Airbnb launched its first official partnership to empower local hospitality entrepreneurs and distribute tourism income to local communities with the DLA in July 2018.
About Airbnb
Airbnb is one of the world's largest marketplaces for unique, authentic places to stay and things to do, offering over 7 million accommodations and 40,000 handcrafted activities, all powered by local hosts. An economic empowerment engine, Airbnb has helped millions of hospitality entrepreneurs monetize their spaces and their passions while keeping the financial benefits of tourism in their own communities. With more than half a billion guest arrivals to date, and accessible in 62 languages across 191 countries and regions, Airbnb promotes people-to-people connection, community and trust around the world.
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