London Calling: Brits lead the charge for internationals searching Aussie getaways on Airbnb following border announcement

Key Takeaways

  • British guests are the most enthusiastic travellers, with more searches for Aussie listings originating in the UK than any other country
  • London, Bali, New York, Paris, and Los Angeles top five most-searched destinations by Aussies for outbound travel
  • Globally, Airbnb Hosts recently hit an incredible milestone, earning more than $150 billion USD

Key Takeaways

  • British guests are the most enthusiastic travellers, with more searches for Aussie listings originating in the UK than any other country
  • London, Bali, New York, Paris, and Los Angeles top five most-searched destinations by Aussies for outbound travel
  • Globally, Airbnb Hosts recently hit an incredible milestone, earning more than $150 billion USD

As Australia’s international border reopens to international citizens on 21 February, British guests have emerged as the most enthusiastic travellers to Australia – according to new Airbnb data, with more searches for Aussie listings originating in the UK than any other country, following the announcement on February 7. 

With deep ties between Australia and the UK, guests in both destinations are keen to venture to each other’s homelands after almost two years of separation, with the UK the most searched outbound destination for Aussie travellers also. 

While guests in the United Kingdom, United States, Singapore, New Zealand, and Canada made up the top five countries with the most searches for Aussie listings on Airbnb for inbound travel, it was Singapore that topped the list for most searches from a city, ahead of London, Auckland, Hong Kong, Bangkok.

In the 48 hours immediately following the government’s announcement that travel would reopen to international citizens on 21 February, Sydney was the number one inbound destination searched by international visitors, followed by  Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Perth as the most searched for Aussie cities.

Australians searching far and wide since 1 November travel reopening 

For their part, Aussie travellers have indicated that since international travel reopened on 1 November, London is the most searched outbound destination, edging out perennial favourites Bali, New York, Paris, and Los Angeles.

While the United States topped the lists for whole country searches – with New York, LA, and Oahu in Hawaii rounding out their top three destinations – among Aussies there has been plenty of enthusiasm for summer seaside destinations across Europe and South East Asia.

Susan Wheeldon, Airbnb Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand said: “This is the moment we’ve all been patiently waiting for after two years of disconnection with friends and loved ones, and our Hosts cannot wait to welcome back guests to our shores.

“What we are seeing from our international guests is enthusiasm to book trips in Australia from cities and countries all over the world, from old friends in the US and UK, to places like Seoul, Dublin, and closer to home in places like Jakarta and New Zealand.

“This is a really exciting time for Australia, travel, and the economy, as tourism begins to recover, with guests choosing to live and travel in new and different ways. The travel revolution is creating new opportunities to host anytime and anywhere. The pandemic, and the rise of remote and hybrid work, have untethered many from offices, and for the first time, millions of people can now live anywhere.

“For every Host looking to welcome guests who want to stay longer, there is a digital nomad eager to live like a local. Over the last two years, we have seen the average trip length increase by approximately 15%, with stays of more than 7 days now representing nearly half of all nights booked. Meanwhile, long-term stays of 28 nights are our fastest growing category by trip length and accounted for 22% of nights booked in the last three months globally.

“Globally Airbnb Hosts recently hit an incredible milestone, earning a total of $150 billion USD since 2010. For our Host community, this income also represents innumerable important bills paid, mortgage repayments made, retirement funds bolstered and renovations done to homes, and their own travel plans funded.”

Top ten countries of origin searching for trips to Australia February 7-13 2022

  • UK
  • US
  • Singapore
  • New Zealand
  • Canada
  • Germany
  • China
  • Hong Kong
  • France
  • India

Top ten cities of origin searching for trips to Australia February 7-13 2022

  • Singapore
  • London
  • Auckland
  • Hong Kong
  • Bangkok
  • Seoul
  • Los Angeles
  • Dublin
  • NYC
  • Jakarta

Top ten destination cities searched by international guests for trips to Australia February 7-13 2022

  • Sydney
  • Melbourne
  • Brisbane
  • Gold Coast-Tweed
  • Perth
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Adelaide
  • Great Ocean Road
  • Byron Bay
  • Mornington Peninsula
Melbourne and the Yarra River

Top ten countries and top three destinations in each searched by Australian guests since November 1, 2021

  • United States
    • New York
    • LA
    • Oahu
  • United Kingdom
    • London
    • Edinburgh
    • Cornwall
  • Italy
    • Rome
    • Amalfi Coast
    • Florence
  • France
    • Paris
    • Haute Savoie
    • Nice
  • New Zealand
    • Queenstown
    • Auckland
    • Northland
  • Canada
    • Vancouver
    • Whistler
    • Toronto
  • Spain
    • Barcelona
    • Madrid
    • Mallorca
  • Indonesia
    • Bali
    • Jakarta
    • Lombok
  • Thailand
    • Phuket
    • Bangkok
    • Ko Samui
  • Greece
    • Athens
    • Ios
    • Mykonos

Top ten cities searched by Australian guests since November 1, 2021

  • London
  • Bali
  • New York
  • Paris
  • Los Angeles
  • Oahu
  • Queenstown
  • Dubai
  • Fiji
  • Rome