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Who Airbnb Restrictions Poorly Affect

Airbnbs have proven to be beneficial not only for the local economy but also for its citizens. Often properties are located in lesser-visited areas of town that usually do not see tourists. This benefited those small towns that normally did not have income of tourists. With regulations on vacation rentals increasing, these benefits may be […]

By The Turno Team

Last updated: November 16, 2023

Airbnbs have proven to be beneficial not only for the local economy but also for its citizens. Often properties are located in lesser-visited areas of town that usually do not see tourists. This benefited those small towns that normally did not have income of tourists. With regulations on vacation rentals increasing, these benefits may be at stake.

When we consider the tourists who visit these less well-known areas of town, it can be of a huge benefit to both business owners, hosts and guests alike. With vacation rental regulations not allowing rentals to operate in these areas, these individuals incomes and livelihoods are affected. In this article, we’ll explore the many reasons Airbnb is good for the local economy and its people.

Service Providers

Local service providers, such as Airbnb cleaners, benefit from the boom in the vacation rental industry in many ways. By having the option of vacation rental cleaning, these service providers have the opportunity of fair pay and a wider option of jobs available. Without properties such as vacation rentals, cleaners would be restricted between choosing to work for a hotel or for a cleaning company that does home visits. Most hotels have a fixed rate for their cleaners. This may be less than what they could earn by visiting private rentals.

Now sites like Airbnb are mainstream, cleaners have the option to work on their own and choose which properties they wish to conduct business with. Through sites like Turno, cleaners can easily connect with vacation rental hosts in their area to increase their clients.

Hosts and Guests

In addition to the economic impacts they have, Airbnbs are also advantageous for both hosts and the guests. For guests, vacation rentals pave the way to explore less touristy areas, save money and accommodate large families. According to the Airbnb Economic Impact research, 79% of travelers want to explore specific neighborhoods and 91% of travelers want to “live like a local”. Another big benefit for guests choosing a vacation rental over a hotel is the price. Airbnbs tend to offer better value for money compared with a hotel in the same location. Additionally, they can also offer a wider price range and cater to larger families more comfortably than hotels do.

Airbnb reported huge benefits for hosts, in that hosting has helped make ends meet for many families. Their statistics show that 52% of hosts have a low to moderate income, that 48% of host income is used to pay for regular household expenses like rent and groceries and it has permitted 53% of families to afford their own home.

Of the total guest spending that was found for the research in San Francisco, $12.7 million went directly to local hosts’ households. Hosts in New York see much more activity in outer boroughs. These are areas that do not typically benefit from tourism spending otherwise. In Paris, almost half of hosts stated that they rely on Airbnb income to pay for household expenses. Further 20% of hosts say that this new source of income has allowed them to pursue professional or personal interests. This in turn helps to support a strong, creative and innovative society.

Local Economy

More often than not, hotels and hostels are based in the center of towns and cities where guests have shops and dining nearby. These tourists typically stay and socialize in these central areas. They do not bring as much business to other less-visited areas of town. Vacation rentals, in contrast, are a huge factor that brings visitors to other parts of town that could benefit from this tourist revenue.

According to Airbnb, 74% of properties are situated outside of the main hotel district. Of the large majority of Airbnbs which are outside of main hotel districts, guests spend 42% of their money in the neighborhoods where they are staying. There is a clear correlation between the location of vacation rentals and where they go out to eat, drink. As a result, we can deduce that properties like those listed on Airbnb can directly benefit the local economy. Without them, guests would spend this 42% in city centers where hotels are.

The Turno Team Avatar
The Turno Team , The Turno Team researches and publishes articles designed to provide short-term rental Hosts, Property Managers, and Airbnb Cleaners with insightful, useful resources. Articles written by the Turno Team cover a wide range of STR interests, from the latest industry data and best practices to real-world, practical advice on running efficient, revenue-generating vacation rental businesses in an ever-changing market. Here at Turno, we’re always looking for original ideas and hot new topics. Have something you’re curious to learn more about? Interested in authoring a guest blog? Drop us a line at [email protected].