Airbnb says Indians are looking for staycations within 300km of their location, reveals key data points about future of domestic travel

Home sharing platform Airbnb India has said it will focus on domestic tourism and local experiences to revive business.

The company said that Indian hosts earned over ₹190 crore in 2018 using its platform and it will continue to focus on providing them support during these tough times.

Amanpreet Bajaj, country manager, Airbnb India, said that people in India are looking for staycations and holidays within 300 kms of their location preferably at secluded locations.

“Travellers want control over the place they are staying in and they do not wish to share it with others,” he said.

Since the pandemic began, the percentage of bookings made on Airbnb which have been within 300 kms, has grown from one-third in February to over a half of all bookings in May. As states lift restrictions and allow inter-state travel, younger travellers will help in fast recovery of the segment.

Airbnb said that its booking data shows people are preferring to take domestic holidays and local experiences. Conscious choices and preference for sustainable travel will lead recovery, benefiting communities and encouraging safe travel. Therefore, the company will focus more on partnering with local communities to promote travel and economic growth.

Highlighting key travel trends in India, Airbnb said that holidays in farms, nature holidays off the beaten track, and other unique destinations that are a road trip away are expected to do well. This will benefit the local economy, and for travellers it will also result in more unique, individual experiences.

In India, 51% of Airbnb’s business comprises domestic bookings, growing at 70-80%. “It will witness further boost in the short to medium term,” Bajaj said.

Its key domestic markets are Goa, New Delhi, Rajasthan, Mumbai and Bengaluru, but the platform is also seeing a surge in searches for stay options in nearby cities especially near metros like Alibag, Lonavala and Panchgani near Mumbai.

The most common words in recent wishlists by Airbnb users are ‘beach’ and ‘summer 2020’, and in India, 70% of visitors to the platform are searching with dates starting July 2020.