Key takeaways
The spending associated with Airbnb generated an estimated $20.3 billion in economic activity - equal to around 7 percent of Australia's tourism GDP
This activity supported 107,000 jobs and contributed nearly $7 billion in wages
Report highlights a continued rebound in international tourism post-COVID, and an increase in domestic travellers with a shift toward travel beyond urban centres in 2024
Thursday, 14 August 2025 – New research¹ by Oxford Economics and commissioned by Airbnb shows that spending associated with Airbnb contributed an estimated $20.3 billion to Australia's economy in 2024, approximately 7 percent of the country's tourism GDP. Economic activity from Airbnb's presence also helped support 107,000 jobs while contributing an estimated $7 billion in wage income.
The report found a continued recovery in domestic travel, with domestic guests accounting for around 84 percent of Airbnb stays in 2024 - an almost 10 percent points increase on the 2019 pre-COVID share. Around half of all international visitors to Australia using Airbnb came from within the Asia Pacific region in 2024, with Singapore, New Zealand and Mainland China among the top three. UK travellers were the single largest source of international guests, accounting for 14 percent of the total, followed closely by the United States (12 percent)¹.
In 2024, Airbnb guest spending in Australia reached $16 billion, which includes both accommodation and non‑accommodation expenses. Guests stayed an average of three days in their Airbnb accommodation and spent on average $320 daily on non‑accommodation essentials like dining, shopping, entertainment, groceries and transport. For every $100 spent in-destination, $34 went to restaurants, $ 20 to shopping, $19 to groceries, $ 15 to arts and entertainment and $12 to local transport.
Host earnings also helped fuel local economies supporting property upkeep, domestic services, and spending on personal goods and services - all helping to sustain local businesses and trades.
HOST SPOTLIGHT: AMANDA, PORT MACQUARIE, AUSTRALIA "I started hosting my studio on Airbnb as the additional income helps improve my financial situation and is crucial for me. Since I work during the day, I hire a cleaner to manage the turnover of the space. The earnings from hosting have provided a steady income for her, and she has seen her business thrive over the past six years working with me. I have assisted several other people in setting up their own businesses since I started hosting and have no plans to stop hosting or helping others in the future. Hosting has positively transformed my life, and I am a strong advocate for it."
HOST SPOTLIGHT: CATHRYN, ILLAWARRA, AUSTRALIA "I am a retired firefighter and my husband a retired crematory operator. Hosting is not an easy job, but it helps us rely less on the government for a pension, and I just love welcoming people to our place! We have so many memorable interactions with our guests. They also often follow our recommendations for restaurants, cafes and sights in the Illawarra and so many of these local businesses have been positively impacted by this."
Airbnb's footprint accounted for 7 percent of Australia's travel and tourism GDP in 2024, and supported 7 percent of tourism-related employment - equivalent to one in every 15 tourism-related jobs¹. Beyond front-line tourism sectors, Airbnb-generated activity injected significant value into the wider economy: contributing $4.2 billion in the property services sector, $2.7 billion in transport and storage, $2.1 billion in wholesale and retail trade and $1.8 billion in food and beverage services.
The economic activity generated by Airbnb supported approximately 25,100 jobs in food and beverage services, 13,900 in wholesale and retail trade, 12,800 in health and social services and 10,800 in arts and entertainment. These roles translated into tangible wage benefits, with Airbnb activity contributing around $961 million in transport sector wages, $942 million in wholesale and retail trade wages and $882 million for food and beverage workers, highlighting a broad and meaningful economic uplift across communities.
Tourism in Australia is increasingly spreading beyond city centres - more than 33 percent of accommodation spending by Airbnb guests occurred outside of major cities, up 4 percentage points from 2019, demonstrating a lasting shift in demand for non-urban travel in 2024.
Last year, Airbnb-generated activity significantly boosted local economies across Australia by contributing to Gross State Product, supporting jobs and driving wage growth:
New South Wales: $6.6 billion GSP; 32,200 jobs; $2.2 billion wages
Victoria: $5.4 billion GSP; 30,900 jobs; $1.8 billion wages
Queensland: $4.8 billion GSP; 25,600 jobs; $1.6 billion wages
Western Australia: $1.8 billion GSP; 8,600 jobs; $600 million wages
South Australia: $900 million GSP; 4,700 jobs; $300 million wages
Tasmania: $500 million GSP; 3,300 jobs; $200 million wages
"Australia's tourism recovery highlights a strong and sustained appetite for domestic travel. While international source markets steadily progress towards pre-pandemic norms, Australian travellers are instrumental in driving the tourism sector's resurgence. In 2024, their share of total Airbnb guests exceeded 2019 levels, showcasing the vital role of domestic tourism in supporting the industry's recovery.
"Airbnb has played a central role in the transformation of Australia's travel landscape, facilitating the distribution of tourism benefits beyond major urban centres to include less-frequented rural regions. Consequently, Airbnb's economic impact is extensively distributed across the national economy, contributing to employment and supporting livelihoods across multiple sectors and geographic areas," Michael Brennan, Director of Economic Consulting, Oxford Economics Australia.
"We're delighted to see Australia's tourism industry going from strength to strength. Aussies are embracing Airbnb not just for city escapes, but to discover hidden gems and unique stays in our beautiful regions. With more stays happening outside our major cities, Airbnb is helping spread the economic benefits to smaller communities across the country.
"It's incredibly rewarding to see the ripple effect and know that Airbnb is helping local businesses thrive, creating jobs, and spreading economic benefits across every corner of Australia," said Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb Country Manager Australia and New Zealand.
"Airbnb plays a vital role in supporting tourism across Australia, opening doors to regional communities and offering travellers authentic local experiences. By helping visitors discover new destinations Airbnb helps support small businesses and local jobs making its hosts and guests an essential partner in building a more diverse, resilient, and welcoming tourism industry especially for our regional communities," Margy Osmond, Tourism and Transport Forum, CEO.
