Airbnb is a significant pillar of Thailand's tourism sector and contributes significantly to its GDP and employment.

In 2022 alone, the activities of the platform supported over 56,500 Thai employees, according to the analysis, which was commissioned by Airbnb. This represents roughly 1.7% of the GDP contribution of the tourism sector.

The survey also emphasized the significant multiplier effect that Airbnb visitors' spending has on nearby towns. Nearly THB 41 billion was spent by Airbnb visitors in Thailand in 2022 on dining, shopping, travel, and lodging. It increased by around 500% from 2021 to reach 72% of pre-pandemic levels in 2019. During their trip, visitors spent 34,000 THB on average.

The study also looks at two significant shifts in travel patterns that have occurred since the pandemic: long-term stays fueled by the emergence of flexible work schedules and the migration of tourists from urban to rural locations.

With the resurgence of international tourism, the US accounted for 14% of Airbnb visitors from abroad, making it Thailand's most important source market. Notably, the percentage of guest nights in Thailand that were long-term stays (defined as stays of 28 nights or more) rose from 13.9% in 2019 to 35.6% in 2022.

The study discovered that as visitor spending increased in places like Koh Samui, Pattaya, and Krabi between 2020 and 2022, Airbnb might redistribute the advantages of tourism expenditure to locations beyond the major provinces of Bangkok and Phuket. Spending on Koh Samui exceeded pre-pandemic levels, increasing by 12% between 2019 and 2022.

Head of Public Policy for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan at Airbnb, Mich Goh "The economic contribution to both GDP and jobs driven by travel on Airbnb in Thailand has created powerful economic ripple effects that have enabled the growth of local businesses, such as shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes — which are often central to how travelers experience a destination — and created job opportunities for the locals," said Mich Goh.

"Since 2020, the long-term stays category has grown, boosted by Airbnb's Live and Work Anywhere project with the Tourism Authority of Thailand and made possible by flexible work policies. This expansion has helped destinations like Thailand draw visitors who stay longer and spend more money on every trip. We are dedicated to working in collaboration with governments and people to help destinations throughout Thailand develop their tourism industries in a fair, inclusive, and sustainable manner, Goh continued.