Airbnb has a very large influence on the traditional hotel sector
They are taking business away from the leisure market, both domestic and international FIT’s
The key metrics shows it’s younger travellers, while Gen-X (40-60yo) still choose to book direct or using an agent (incl OTA’s)
Big corporate is still using hotels as well and Government
Europe and USA have imposed restrictions but SA not, and is in dire need to regulate Airbnb
For example in parts of the USA only stays of 27+ days are allowed, and you may have shorter stays up to 3 nights, but only allowed 3 reservations per month
Data from InsideAirbnb, a platform using data to show the impact of Airbnb on communities, indicates over 23 000 Airbnbs operate in Cape Town with the majority (over 19 000) listed as homes or apartments (as opposed to a room to rent in a home).
Four wards in Cape Town – within central areas of the Cape Town CBD, Woodstock, Observatory and the Atlantic Seaboard including Sea Point and Green Point – account for nearly half of these accommodations.
In 2023, Airbnbs in Cape Town hosted 700 000 guests. Airbnb said this translates into an estimated R14.2bn contribution to GDP and creation of 42 000 “part-time, full-time and seasonal jobs supported by Airbnb activity”.
Copyright: www.tourismupdate.co.za
