Airbnb's Impact on India's Economy: Rs 11,300 Crore GDP Boost and 1,11,000 Jobs Supported in 2024
Airbnb's operations in India contributed Rs 11,300 crore to the country's GDP and supported 1,11,000 jobs in 2024, according to a report by Oxford Economics. The platform's impact extended beyond tourism, benefiting sectors like transport, agriculture, and real estate.
AirbnbIndian EconomyGdpTourismJob CreationReal EstateSep 08, 2025
In 2024, domestic travelers accounted for 91% of Airbnb guests in India, a trend that has helped triple the non-urban gross booking value since 2019. This reflects a growing interest in rural and lesser-known destinations. Among international guests, the largest inbound sources were the US, England, Canada, and Australia.
Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb India's country head, highlighted that this contribution translates to 0.5% of the country’s travel and tourism GDP and 0.2% of tourism-related jobs, equivalent to one in every 417 tourism-related jobs. In the reporting year, Airbnb guests spent Rs 11,200 crore in the country, which includes both accommodation and non-accommodation expenses. On average, guests stayed for two nights and spent Rs 11,000 daily on non-accommodation essentials like dining, retail stores, and transport.
The report breaks down the spending as follows: Rs 3,800 on restaurants, Rs 2,400 on transport, Rs 2,100 on shopping, Rs 900 on arts and entertainment, and Rs 800 on groceries. Beyond the front-line tourism sectors, Airbnb-generated activity contributed Rs 3,100 crore to transport and storage, Rs 1,500 crore to agriculture, Rs 1,300 crore to real estate, and Rs 1,200 crore to manufacturing.
Airbnb-supported tourism helped support around 38,000 jobs in transport and storage, 19,600 in food and beverage services, 16,800 in wholesale and retail trade, and 10,700 in manufacturing. These roles translated into tangible wage benefits, with the platform activity contributing Rs 810 crore in transport and storage wages, Rs 290 crore in manufacturing wages, and Rs 26 crore in real estate sector wages.
While the non-urban share of gross booking value was 16% in 2024, total non-urban gross booking value tripled since 2019, demonstrating growing traveler interest in rural and lesser-known destinations outside major cities, according to James Lambert, a director of economic consulting for Asia at Oxford Economics.
Airbnb has come a long way since its inception in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home. Today, the platform has grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guests in almost every country across the globe. Oxford Economics, founded in 1981 as a commercial venture with the University of Oxford’s business college, provides economic forecasting and modeling to British companies and financial institutions expanding abroad. It now offers reports, forecasts, and analytical tools on over 200 countries, 100 industries, and 8,000 cities and regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Airbnb's contribution to India's GDP in 2024?
Airbnb's operations contributed Rs 11,300 crore to India's GDP in 2024.
How many jobs did Airbnb support in India in 2024?
Airbnb supported 1,11,000 jobs in India in 2024.
What percentage of Airbnb guests in India were domestic travelers in 2024?
91% of Airbnb guests in India were domestic travelers in 2024.
How much did Airbnb guests spend on non-accommodation expenses in 2024?
Airbnb guests spent Rs 11,000 daily on non-accommodation expenses, totaling Rs 11,200 crore in the reporting year.
What sectors were most impacted by Airbnb's economic activity in India?
The sectors most impacted by Airbnb's economic activity in India were transport and storage, agriculture, real estate, and manufacturing.
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