Image: Thomas Bennie – Unsplash
As summer approaches, Airbnb today shows the knowledge that the foreigner in South Africa is back, with nights booked on the platform in the first 3 quarters more than double compared to the same time last year. Bela-Bela in Limpopo tops the list of destination trends, with lers also flocking to the ever-popular Western Cape region.
Located in the famous Waterberg region, Bela-Bela in Limpopo is fast becoming a must-see for tourists from all over the world. Known for its ordinary conservation and wildlife efforts, it’s no wonder that Airbnb reservations on the domain have noticed a building. of more than 400% compared to 2021.
In June, Airbnb also expanded its Entrepreneurship Academy to the region as part of a three-year commitment to empower a new generation of tourism entrepreneurs. 51 Waterberg Academy attendees are expected to graduate later this month after receiving the skills, hands-on equipment and want to succeed on the Airbnb platform in South Africa.
The increase in guest numbers is a welcome boost for locals, especially in the face of emerging living costs. Half of hosts in South Africa say they are hosting to cope with existing economic challenges, while more than a third say the additional source of income helps them make ends meet.
The South African hosts jointly earned 1400 million rand in the 2021-2022 summer season. Last year, the typical South African host earned around R25,400 renting their area on Airbnb, which equates to about a month’s extra salary for the average income.
The Western Cape also continues to attract travelers with historic towns such as Witzenberg, Theewaterskloof and Saldanha Bay. Drakenstein, in the famous Western Cape wine region, also attracts visitors with its wonderful vineyards and amazing landscapes.
Airbnb’s trending destinations in South Africa for travelers in 2022:
These summer destinations highlight foreign travelers’ emerging hot spots and their preference for new experiences. The main countries of origin of consumers visiting South Africa are travellers from the UK, Germany, the US, the Netherlands and France.
Velma Corcoran, Regional Director for Middle East and Africa at Airbnb, said:
“The return of foreigners to South Africa is wonderful news for the tourism economy that supports local businesses and communities. The accommodation is also proving to be an economical lifeline for thousands of South African families, as it is an opportunity to show off good looks. of their homes while increasing their income in light of the emerging burden of life.
Rose Mashaba, a graduate of Waterberg Academy, said:
“The Airbnb Entrepreneurship Academy taught me how to interact with visitors and take my business seriously. When I arrived, I didn’t have an entrepreneurial mindset, however, I gained wonderful confidence in controlling my assets, Pendleberry Grove, thanks to the education I received. I am very grateful for this opportunity and am extremely happy to continue to share my assets with visitors visiting Bela-Bela. “
Potential hosts can find out how much they can earn by sharing their area on Airbnb with What’s My Place Worth tool. The interactive tool calculates estimated profit based on geography, directory type, and also uses prior knowledge of Airbnb reservations in the region. For more information, stop at Airbnb. com/host.
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