Travelers once again dreaming of exploring the Asia-Pacific region

More than two years since the beginning of the pandemic, travelers are dreaming about their next international trip, with destinations across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region front of mind for many, new research shows. 

From Australia, to Korea and right across Southeast Asia, international border restrictions have been gradually easing over recent months, inspiring many to start planning their next international getaway. 

International travel corridors have long played a major role in bolstering the economic vitality of destinations throughout APAC, and Airbnb is committed to working together with governments across the region to help ensure it continues to do so. Airbnb also remains focused on empowering our guest community to embrace the travel revolution, as many travelers look to make the most of their newfound flexibility and the blurring lines between travel and living.

New research commissioned by Airbnb and undertaken by YouGov, reveals a huge amount of enthusiasm among many travelers for international travel. The study involved a survey of more than 6000 people across South Korea, India, Australia, Japan, China and the US. 

Key findings include:

The Asia-Pacific region is front of mind for many travelers

• Exactly half of both Chinese and Australian respondents said they would consider visiting international destinations within the Asia-Pacific region when they’re able to. This was also true for 58 percent of South Korean respondents, 48 percent of Indian respondents and more than a quarter (28 percent) of Japanese respondents.
• More than a third (35 percent) of US respondents said they’re excited about being able to visit countries within the Asia-Pacific region.

Many people are excited about traveling internationally again and plan to do so more often

• More than 70 percent of respondents from South Korea and India (77 percent and 71 percent, respectively) reported being excited about once again being able to travel internationally.
• That number was also similar for Australians who participated in the study (70 percent), as well as for Chinese participants (64 percent).
• More than one in three respondents in Japan (35 percent), as well as 52 percent of Chinese respondents, said they’ve missed being able to travel internationally and have a strong desire to do so again. Similarly, 35 percent of those surveyed in the US said they had missed being able to travel overseas during the pandemic and want to make the most of being able to do so again.
• Almost four in 10 US respondents (37 percent) say they plan to travel internationally “more frequently” in the future. That was also true for 38 percent of Chinese respondents, 62 percent of South Korean respondents, 1 in 5 Japanese respondents, two-thirds of Indian respondents, and more than half of Australians surveyed (52 percent).

Many travelers are looking to make that next international trip a reality very soon

• More than a third of Japanese respondents (34 percent), and almost half of US respondents (46 percent), reported having plans to travel internationally in the foreseeable future. The vast majority of people from Australia, India, China and South Korea surveyed (70 percent, 75 percent, 63 percent and 82 percent, respectively) reported the same. 
• Of those planning to travel internationally, 30 percent of US respondents plan to do so within the next six months, along with more than a third of Indians surveyed, 31 percent of Australian respondents and over a quarter of South Koreans surveyed.
• The majority of respondents in China, South Korea, India and Australia also expressed a desire to travel internationally as soon as they’re able to, along with 38 percent of people surveyed in the US.

As the travel revolution continues to unfold, the way we think about international travel is also changing

Throughout the pandemic, we’ve seen major shifts in the way that people think about travel and living, with the lines between them continuing to blur. For many, that also appears to apply to international travel.

• In both South Korea and China, 65 percent of those surveyed said they were more open to traveling internationally during off-peak times of the year than they were before the pandemic. That was also the case for 59 percent of Indian respondents, 55 percent of Australian respondents, one in five Japanese respondents (19 percent), and 39 percent of US respondents. 
• Moving forward, many people are also open to the idea of combining work and travel while abroad. For survey participants who were currently working, that was the case for 73 percent of Indian respondents, two-thirds of South Korean respondents, one in two Australians surveyed, 49 percent of Chinese respondents, and 41 percent of US respondents.

Many people believe that international travel remains an important means of expanding their horizons and connecting with other cultures

• That’s true for 53 percent of Australians surveyed, 54 percent of Chinese respondents, 68 percent of South Korean respondents and 51 percent of Indian respondents.
• A significant number of those respondents looking to travel internationally also expressed a desire to experience off-the-beaten-path destinations they hadn’t visited before. This included more than a quarter of Japanese, Indian, Australian, South Korean, Chinese and US respondents (26 percent, 27 percent, 32 percent, one third, 32 percent and 26 percent, respectively).

Parin Mehta, Airbnb’s APAC Regional Director, said: “As international borders gradually reopen across the Asia-Pacific region, we’re focused on ensuring that guests and the communities they visit can make the most of both the travel revolution and the return of international travel. We’re committed to continuing to work collaboratively with governments and communities across the region to rebuild tourism and maximise the benefits of the travel revolution. We’re incredibly excited to be helping to make travellers’ long-dreamt about international trips become a reality. We continue to focus on innovation so guests can experience both well-travelled and new destinations in fresh ways.”

Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 about us that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including, but not limited to, statements about our future performance, prospects, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. 

In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “plan,” “could,” “potential,” “objective,” or “continues” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations. Although we believe that we have a reasonable basis for each forward-looking statement contained in this press release, we cannot guarantee that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur at all. 

Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from the objectives expressed or implied in this press release. Therefore, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the effects and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic on us, the travel industry, travel trends, geopolitical tensions and the global economy generally; any further and continued decline or disruption in the travel and hospitality industries or economic downturn; changes in political, business, and economic conditions; and the other risks listed or described from time to time in Airbnb’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Airbnb’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and any subsequent Form 8-Ks, which are on file with the SEC and available on the investor relations page of Airbnb’s website.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are based on information and estimates available to us as of the date of this press release. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any information contained in this press release, except as required by law.