KUALA LUMPUR: Millennials between the ages of 25 and 40 accounted for more than 60 per cent of new hosts in the first half (1H) of 2021, according to Airbnb.
In a statement yesterday, the online marketplace for lodging, primarily homestays for vacation rentals and tourism activities, said the top five states where these new hosts were based are Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Sabah and Penang.
It said amid the stop-start nature of the Movement Control Order (MCO) regulations from January to June, new Airbnb hosts collectively earned over RM680,000 from welcoming guests on Airbnb.
"2021 has undoubtedly proved challenging as the pandemic continues to impact Malaysian livelihoods, businesses and the broader economy. However, hosting has offered many an additional source of income during a time of financial strain, providing economic empowerment for these new hosts," Airbnb Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan general manager Amanpreet Bajaj said.
"As the conversation turns towards the return of travel, it is crucial that guest and Host safety remains Airbnb's top priority. Last year, we implemented the 5-step Enhanced Clean process, a set of cleaning and sanitisation standards developed in partnership with experts and endorsed by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) to ensure peace of mind for our community.
"We remain fully committed to supporting Malaysia's tourism recovery efforts, and we continue working hard to find new ways to drive clean and safe travel," he added.
Airbnb said the data follows its recent global announcement of more than 100 new upgrades across the platform, including making it easier to start hosting.
Based on the first quarter (Q1) 2021 survey conducted by Airbnb, a third of Malaysian hosts polled said the money earned through the platform provided an additional source of revenue for the household and helped them stay afloat during the pandemic.