Airbnb attracts almost 213,000 guests to regional Queensland in $162 million economic boost

Airbnb has delivered a significant economic boost to regional Queensland in the past 12 months, with almost 213,000 guests injecting $162 million into local economies.

GUESTS of home-sharing giant Airbnb have injected a whopping $162 million into regional Queensland in the past year, as more visitors head outside the state’s capital.

New data has revealed almost 213,000 Airbnb guests headed to regional Queensland in the 12 months to August this year.

Of the estimated $162 million they injected into local economies, more than $80 million was spent in tropical north Queensland and almost $14 million in Townsville.

The Airbnb guests who flocked to the state’s far-north enjoyed far longer trips, with visitors staying for an average of 6.3 days.

Airbnb Head of Public ­Policy for Australia and New Zealand Derek Nolan said that the company would continue to work hard to promote regional Queensland to the rest of the world.

“Regional Queensland has so much to offer,” Mr Nolan said. “It’s fantastic to see so many Airbnb guests exploring regional Queensland and supporting small businesses and local jobs across the Sunshine State,’’ he said. “Importantly, most of these guests almost certainly went home to encourage their friends and family to do the same.”