The online homestay marketplace Airbnb Inc. claimed that its activities in the Philippines added $840 million (P45.7 billion) to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and supported nearly 103,800 jobs in 2020, according to a report by economic advisory firm Oxford Economics.
The report, commissioned by Airbnb, revealed how the platform played a vital role in the recovery and resilience of the Philippines tourism industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It also showed how travel behaviors had changed, with more tourists opting for rural destinations and lengthier stays.
Airbnb guests spent $876 million in local businesses such as restaurants, retail stores, and transportation from April 2022 to March 2023, the first full year after international travel reopened. Of this amount, $445 million (P24.2 million) came from domestic tourism alone.
The platform also contributed to the employment of one in every 77 workers in the tourism sector in the Philippines, creating job opportunities for the locals.
James Lambert, Oxford Economics director for economic consulting in Asia, said that Airbnb was at the heart of some trends reshaping the nation’s travel and tourism industry.
“Airbnb has enabled the shift in travel away from cities and toward more rural communities, and the increase in demand for long-stay trips, exemplified by the life and work anywhere phenomenon,” he said.
Amanpreet Singh Bajaj, Airbnb general manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, said that the report demonstrated the powerful economic ripple effects of Airbnb on the growth of local businesses and communities.
“The long-term stays segment, which has grown since 2020 due to flexible work policies and Airbnb’s Live and Work Anywhere program, is helping destinations attract guests who stay longer and spend more per trip,” he said.
Bajaj added that Airbnb was committed to further partnering with governments and communities in rebuilding the tourism industry.
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