Online holiday business Airbnb has boosted the Devon and Cornwall economy by £135.3m and supported 4,652 jobs according to new research.
Data from global analysts at Oxford Economics reveals Airbnb benefited the Cornwall economy by £45.6m, supported 1,604 jobs and accounted for 9.1% of tourism activity.
The figures also estimate that the US holiday company swelled the Devon economy by £89.7m, supported 3,048 jobs and accounted for 11.9% of tourism activity.
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The new data highlights the important role that travel on Airbnb can play in supporting economic recovery in the South West, Airbnb said.
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Half of new listings globally that were both activated and booked in early 2021 received their first reservation request within four days, and during last summer, the average 海角视频 Host pocketed nearly £1,000.
The new data comes as Airbnb wrote to leaders in Cornwall and Devon to reiterate its support for a host register and its commitment to working together to make the measure a success.
Airbnb put proposals for a host register to the Government in June following a nationwide consultation that included stakeholders from Cornwall and in partnership with the University of Brighton and BritainThinks.
Days later, the Government took forward the proposal as part of its Tourism Recovery Plan and said it will seek views on the benefits of a host register in accelerating the recovery of tourism and the economy following the pandemic.
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“Airbnb can play a vital role in supporting economic recovery in Devon and Cornwall and we want everyone to have the opportunity to benefit,” said Theo Lomas, head of policy for Northern Europe at Airbnb. “Clear rules to back hospitality entrepreneurs will accelerate economic recovery and create a sustainable future for tourism that safeguards local communities. We want to work with everyone to make that a success.”
Earlier this year, Airbnb launched The Great Rebalance of European Travel, a series of commitments from the company to work with communities across the region to ensure the return of travel is safe, sustainable and benefits everyone - spreading economic benefits to more people and preventing the return of the overtourism phenomenon, where too much tourism is concentrated in too few places.
The company said: “Everyone in Europe should have the opportunity to financially benefit from tourism and we commit that our platform will continue to enable that.
“The vast majority of the economics on Airbnb goes directly into the pockets of ordinary people and 55% of Hosts in Europe are women.
“What’s more, guests staying in Airbnbs spend in the local neighborhoods benefiting local businesses. In Lisbon for example, every 100 listings have been estimated to support 52 jobs and contribute over 2million euros to the economy.”