AUSTRALIA | A new report has revealed Airbnb had a strong foothold on the Australian accommodation market, with over AUD 20 billion.
New research by Oxford Economics and commissioned by Airbnb shows that spending associated with Airbnb contributed an estimated AUD 20.3 billion to Australia’s economy in 2024, approximately seven percent of the country’s tourism GDP. Economic activity from Airbnb’s presence also helped support 107,000 jobs while contributing an estimated AUD 7 billion in wage income.
The report found a continued recovery in domestic travel, with domestic guests accounting for around 84 percent of Airbnb stays in 2024, an almost 10 percent points increase on the 2019 pre-COVID share. Around half of all international visitors to Australia using Airbnb came from within the Asia Pacific region in 2024, with Singapore, New Zealand and Mainland China among the top three. UK travellers were the single largest source of international guests, accounting for 14 percent of the total, followed closely by the United States (12 percent).
In 2024, Airbnb guest spending in Australia reached AUD 16 billion, which includes both accommodation and non‑accommodation expenses. Guests stayed an average of three days in their Airbnb accommodation and spent on average AUD 320 daily on non‑accommodation essentials like dining, shopping, entertainment, groceries and transport. For every AUD 100 spent in-destination, AUD 34 went to restaurants, AUD 20 to shopping, AUD 19 to groceries, AUD 15 to arts and entertainment and AUD 12 to local transport.
Host earnings also helped fuel local economies, supporting property upkeep, domestic services, and spending on personal goods and services, all helping to sustain local businesses and trades.
“I started hosting my studio on Airbnb as the additional income helps improve my financial situation and is crucial for me. Since I work during the day, I hire a cleaner to manage the turnover of the space. The earnings from hosting have provided a steady income for her, and she has seen her business thrive over the past six years working with me. I have assisted several other people in setting up their own businesses since I started hosting and have no plans to stop hosting or helping others in the future. Hosting has positively transformed my life, and I am a strong advocate for it,” said an Airbnb host from Port Macquarie.
Airbnb’s footprint accounted for seven percent of Australia’s travel and tourism GDP in 2024, and supported seven percent of tourism-related employment, equivalent to one in every 15 tourism-related jobs¹. Beyond front-line tourism sectors, Airbnb-generated activity injected significant value into the wider economy: contributing AUD 4.2 billion in the property services sector, AUD 2.7 billion in transport and storage, AUD 2.1 billion in wholesale and retail trade and AUD 1.8 billion in food and beverage services.
The economic activity generated by Airbnb supported approximately 25,100 jobs in food and beverage services, 13,900 in wholesale and retail trade, 12,800 in health and social services and 10,800 in arts and entertainment. These roles translated into tangible wage benefits, with Airbnb activity contributing around AUD 961 million in transport sector wages, AUD 942 million in wholesale and retail trade wages and AUD 882 million for food and beverage workers, highlighting a broad and meaningful economic uplift across communities.
Tourism in Australia is increasingly spreading beyond city centres, more than 33 percent of accommodation spending by Airbnb guests occurred outside of major cities, up four percentage points from 2019, demonstrating a lasting shift in demand for non-urban travel in 2024.
“Australia’s tourism recovery highlights a strong and sustained appetite for domestic travel. While international source markets steadily progress towards pre-pandemic norms, Australian travellers are instrumental in driving the tourism sector’s resurgence. In 2024, their share of total Airbnb guests exceeded 2019 levels, showcasing the vital role of domestic tourism in supporting the industry’s recovery,” said Michael Brennan, Director of Economic Consulting, Oxford Economics Australia.
“We’re delighted to see Australia’s tourism industry going from strength to strength. Aussies are embracing Airbnb not just for city escapes, but to discover hidden gems and unique stays in our beautiful regions. With more stays happening outside our major cities, Airbnb is helping spread the economic benefits to smaller communities across the country.”
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