Airbnb boosted Mayo economy by €21 million last year

TRAVEL on Airbnb was worth €21 million to the Mayo economy in 2022, according to a new independent report from Oxford Economics, commissioned by Airbnb.

In Mayo, the total number of guest nights booked on Airbnb last year was 238,000.

Travel on Airbnb draws hundreds of thousands of people to the country each year, showcasing one-of-a-kind accommodation in places that visitors might otherwise not see. This activity contributes millions to the visitor economy and has become a vital part of the Irish tourism sector.

The report highlights how home sharing continues to create significant economic benefits for families and communities in Mayo, as well as the wider tourism economy, particularly in distributing tourism to rural and lesser-visited parts of Ireland.

Airbnb accounted for 6% of all nights in paid accommodation in the country in 2022.

Guest spending in Mayo for 2022 was valued at €25 million, distributing the economic benefits of tourism beyond just local hosts to local businesses, shops and restaurants.

Airbnb has always encouraged guests to visit lesser-travelled destinations, and the report highlights how it is dispersing economic benefits to rural parts of the country.

In 2022, the spending footprint attributable to Airbnb guests in the west region was worth €79 million to Ireland’s GDP.

In Mayo, 330 jobs were linked to Airbnb in 2022. The west of Ireland saw the largest proportion of Airbnb-linked employment last year, with more than 1,200 jobs supported by activity on the platform.

Private rooms are an essential part of the country's tourism offering and last year, private room bookings accounted for 16% of all bookings on Airbnb in Ireland.

Many international visitors prefer sharing accommodation as opposed to renting entire homes and with international visitors generally spending more than their domestic counterparts, the supply of private rooms stays on Airbnb is particularly important.

Commented Derek Nolan, head of public policy at Airbnb Ireland: “Airbnb provides authentic and affordable stays for guests in Ireland and drives economic benefits for local Irish families and their communities by generating employment and dispersing tourism across the country. We want to play our part as a key pillar of the Irish tourism economy, and support the introduction of a host register to protect Ireland’s tourism, unlock the benefits of hosting for Irish families, and help local authorities to clamp down on property speculators.”