New data released today by Airbnb, highlights how the home share community is helping grow tourism in off-the-beaten-track destinations across Thailand and the Asia Pacific, and helping spread the benefits of tourism beyond big cities and major tourism hotspots.

Similar to other countries in the Asia Pacific, the Airbnb community is growing rapidly in off-the-beaten track destinations in Thailand.

This growth is powered by travellers increasingly seeking more local, unique and authentic experiences. In 2018, the number of Airbnb guest arrivals visiting off-the-beaten path destinations in Thailand grew by 53% year-on-year and some areas with the fastest growth included:

1. Rawai – 92%
2. Chiang Rai -90%
3. Hat Yai – 214%
4. Saladan – 71%

Airbnb’s head of public policy in Southeast Asia, Mich Goh, said the data reinforced how Airbnb was helping grow tourism right across Thailand. “Just as important as growing tourism is making sure that the benefits of tourism are dispersed beyond big cities and major tourism destinations.

This new data shows that Airbnb is not only growing local tourism – but spreading this growth all across Thailand. With Airbnb, more people and places share in the enormous benefits of tourism. More Airbnb guests going off the beaten track means more income and jobs in local communities.”

The data also revealed more hospitality entrepreneurs in off-the-beaten-track destinations – home sharers, and small, independent, and boutique hotel owners – are turning to the Airbnb platform as a way to promote their unique listings to travellers from Thailand and the world. In 2018, some of the areas with the highest year-on-year growth in active listings in Thailand included:

1. Nakhon Sawan – 167%
2. Trang – 84%
3. Hat Yai – 65%
4. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya – 66%
5. Chumphon – 61%