Airbnb stays bring tourism to Geelong region

Long-term Airbnb stays across Geelong have rebounded as tourism continues to recover post-Covid lockdowns.

Long-term Airbnb stays across Geelong have rebounded as tourism continues to recover post-Covid lockdowns.

The latest statistics from Airbnb revealed the city had topped a list of popular long-term stays outside the country’s major cities.

Across the country non-urban bookings are up 60 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Airbnb country manager Susan Wheeldon said more people were seeking options “off the beaten path” and away from big cities.

“More than two years since the start of the pandemic, we continue to see fundamental shifts in travel that are creating tangible opportunities for communities that lay off-the-beaten track,” she said.

“It’s incredibly exciting to see travellers so enthusiastic about exploring new destinations.”

Paul Hart and his partner have been hosting on the site since 2013, and opened up their Barwon Heads home after moving from the city last year.

Paul Hart at his Barwon Heads home for a story on Airbnb long stays in the region.

“We’ve just started getting bookings for the warmer months,” he said.

“Winter is traditionally pretty quiet, but last summer we had a lot of people coming through.”

Though the bulk of visitors are Melbourne escapees, Mr Hart said Barwon Heads did attract international visitors too.

“It’s always interesting to meet people from different parts of the world and show them a few things around town,” he said.

“We can direct them down the Great Ocean Road, or to the White House Cafe for the best brekkie in town.”

Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine executive director Brett Ince said the pandemic had forced people to explore their own backyards.

“Seeing commercial accommodation providers book out during busy periods has been exciting to see, but also highlights the opportunities in that space and has likely contributed to the growth in private Airbnb rentals,” he said.

“The pandemic has also inspired many people to take the opportunity to visit friends and family, and these trips account for a large portion of visits to our region.”

He said the arrival of the Spirit of Tasmania, Geelong Revival, White Night Geelong and the Queenscliff Music Festival would also bring people to the region.

“A key driver of major events is to generate overnight stays and it’s important we have a healthy availability of all accommodation types during those times,” he said.

Originally published as Airbnb stays bring tourism to Geelong region