Airbnb contributes RM9.2 billion to Malaysia’s economy in 2024 - Survey
Travel in Malaysia is expanding beyond major cities, with more than half of Airbnb guests’ spending in 2024 occurring outside Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
KUALA LUMPUR - Airbnb activity contributed RM9.2 billion to Malaysia’s economy in 2024, accounting for about five per cent of the tourism sector’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to a survey by Oxford Economics.
In a statement, the American vacation rental company said the online platform also supported four per cent of tourism-related employment, equivalent to one in every 26 jobs in the industry.
Overall, it said Airbnb-linked economic activity helped support around 93,600 jobs and contributed RM2.1 billion in wage income.
"Beyond front-line tourism sectors, Airbnb-generated activity injected significant value into the wider economy: contributing almost RM1.4 billion in manufacturing, RM1.2 billion in transport and storage, RM1.2 billion in food and beverage services, and over RM1.0 billion in wholesale and retail trade,” Airbnb said.
The survey also found that Airbnb guests’ spending in Malaysia, which includes accommodation and non-accommodation expenses, reached RM11 billion in 2024.
It said host earnings further support local economies through property upkeep, domestic services, and personal consumption.
Additionally, it highlighted a strong rebound in domestic travel, with Malaysian travellers making up 67 per cent of Airbnb guests in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
International travellers accounted for the remaining 33 per cent, more than double their share from 2022, reflecting Malaysia’s rising global appeal, it said.
Airbnb said that among international guests, over 80 per cent were from the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, reaffirming the importance of APAC markets as key inbound sources.
Travel in Malaysia is also expanding beyond major cities, with more than half of Airbnb guests’ spending in 2024 occurring outside Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
The company said these non-urban areas contributed 62 per cent of Airbnb’s GDP impact, supported 63,500 jobs, and generated RM1.3 billion in wages.
Airbnb’s country head for Southeast Asia and India Amanpreet Bajaj said that with more than half of stays happening outside the major areas of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Airbnb is helping spread the economic benefits to more communities in Malaysia.
"It is incredibly rewarding to know that Airbnb is helping local businesses thrive, creating jobs, and spreading economic benefits across the country,” he said. - BERNAMA
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