Airbnb gives £40m boost to Belfast economy

Airbnb gives £40m boost to Belfast economy

According to new research, over 150,000 guests used Airbnb services in 2018 generating over £40m for the Belfast economy.

Airbnb reveals host income and guest spending led to £75.5 million in estimated direct economic impact for Northern Ireland, £4.2 billion for the UK, and more than $100 billion across 30 countries; 50% of guests spend money they saved on accommodations in local communities.

Guest spending in Belfast neighbourhoods and communities accounted for more than three quarters (£28.5 million) of the total figure generated for the city. Guests are estimated to have spent on average £81 per day on activities like cultural experiences, sightseeing, shopping, travel and food and drink.

Belfast hosts who shared their space on Airbnb also enjoyed a boost to their income, collectively earning over £8.7 million in the past year, welcoming 150,000 guests who chose Airbnb to visit the city.

This announcement comes as Airbnb reveals that host income and guest spending led to over £4.2 billion (USD5.6 billion) in estimated direct economic impact in the UK, over £75.5 million for Northern Ireland and exceeded USD100 billion globally in 2018.

The top 5 most popular destinations among Airbnb guests who travelled to Northern Ireland in 2018 were: 

 

  1. Belfast
  2. Derry
  3. Coleraine
  4. Ballycastle
  5. Portrush

 

Hadi Moussa, Airbnb, Country Manager UK and Northern Europe, said: “Airbnb has transformed the way people travel, helping visitors to explore beyond the traditional destinations and hotspots. Tourism plays an important role in the Belfast economy, and the Airbnb community of hosts and guests are helping to spread the benefits of this tourism, enabling travellers to live like locals and putting money in the pockets of local families, businesses and communities.”

Other insights from the Airbnb community found that visitors from Great Britain made up 40% of all Airbnb guest arrivals in Belfast, followed by the USA, Ireland, Canada and France. 77% of guests who stayed with Airbnb in Northern Ireland also said they use the platform to live like a local, benefiting from hosts’ knowledge of the visited area. 84% of hosts said they recommend restaurants and cafes to guests and 69% offer their knowledge on cultural activities such as museums, festivals and historical sites.

Importantly, Airbnb listings are not concentrated in any one market, and no one city accounts for more than one percent of listings worldwide. Airbnb continues to lead the way on working to ensure home sharing grows responsibly and sustainably in the communities its hosts call home.