Airbnb bookings give P45.7 million boost to Philippine GDP, employment in 2022 — report

MANILA, Philippines — A report released early this month found that activities of  Airbnb, an online platform for short- and long-term homestays and experience, gave a big boost to the Philippine economy in 2022. 

The research by independent United Kingdom-based think tank Oxford Economics, commissioned by Airbnb learned that activities booked through the platform contributed P45.7 million (US $480 million) to the Gross Domestic Product of the Philippines in 2022. 

It also spurred the employment in the Philippines as it reported that one in 77 jobs in the tourism sector in the country are associated with the platform. The Airbnb activities are also estimated to support around 103,800 jobs in the country.

The research attributed the platform’s contribution to the Philippine economy to  Airbnb guests who spent a total of P47.7 million (US $876 million) in the country. They made purchases in various business establishments such as in restaurants, retail stores and on transportation.

For the domestic tourism alone, Oxford Economics said that Airbnb guests spent P24.2 million (US $445 million) in the Philippines last year. 

The same research learned that there was a change in travel behavior of tourists since COVID-1o with some now opting to visit tourist destinations away from urban areas and some booking long-term stays driven by the emergence of flexible work arrangements.

In late June, the Department of Tourism rebranded the Philippines’ tourism campaign to “Love the Philippines,” taking into consideration the “changed traveler’s” behavior.

Based on its local, regional and global research, the DOT said that the COVID-19 pandemic changed the travelers’ motivations, preferences and behavior.

In a presentation during the launch of the rebranded tourism campaign, Marie Adriano, marketing firm DDB Group Philippines’ brand and strategic planner, cited that there was a change in the preference of travelers who are now going beyond leisure.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many tourists also considered “workation” or working while on vacation, with many traveling as a form of respite from the COVID-19 lockdowns.

An online travel survey titled “The Evolving Landscape of