Community-driven hospitality company Airbnb now provides the average South African host with extra, sporadic, earnings each year.
Data released by the firm shows there were 7 500 active hosts in the country last year. Airbnb says the host who occasionally shares space in their home boosts their yearly income by more than R28 000.
The company says in a statement that nearly half of the active hosts were self-employed or freelancers who worked from home. It notes hosting guests helps the host to afford to do this.
Of the active hosts, 66% share space in their primary residence. The rest rent out entire apartments or houses.
Nicola D'Elia, GM of Airbnb MEA, says Airbnb also helps to boost the local economy: "27% of visitors to Cape Town, for example, tell us they wouldn't have come at all or stayed as long if it hadn't been for Airbnb."
Similarly, more than half of Airbnb guests visit local businesses based on host recommendations, and stay an average of six nights.
More than 130 000 guests made use of the service last year in SA, an increase of 250% compared to 2014. The company says nearly 100 000 South Africans have used Airbnb when travelling.
The average Airbnb host is 44 years old and the average guest is 37.
Share