As Malaysia prepares to resume domestic travel in the coming months, Airbnb has been steadily navigating the COVID-19 epidemic, with hundreds of new local Airbnb Hosts joining the platform in the first half of 2021.
In the first half of 2021, millennials aged 25 to 40 made up more than 60% of new Airbnb Hosts. The top five states where these new Airbnb Hosts are based are Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Sabah, and Penang. Amidst the stop-start nature of Movement Control Order regulations from January to June, new Airbnb Hosts collectively earned over RM680,000 from welcoming guests on the online booking platform.
This data follows Airbnb’s recent global announcement of more than 100 new upgrades across the platform, including making it easier to start hosting. Based on a Q1 2021 survey conducted by Airbnb, a third of Malaysian Airbnb Hosts polled said the money earned through Airbnb provided an additional source of revenue for the household and helped them stay afloat and fight costs of living during the pandemic.
Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan mentioned that 2021 has undoubtedly proved challenging as the pandemic continues to impact Malaysian livelihoods, businesses, and the broader economy. Hosting has offered many an additional source of income during a time of financial strain, providing economic empowerment for these new hosts.
He also stated that, when the travelling business returns, the safety of the guests and hosts will always be a top priority. They’ve also put in place the 5-Step Enhanced Clean Process, a set of cleaning and sanitisation standards established in collaboration with specialists and endorsed by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA), showing their committed to always assisting Malaysia’s tourist recovery efforts.
Amidst the unprecedented needs brought about by the pandemic, Airbnb continues to work to support and strengthen the communities its Airbnb Hosts call home. In June, three Malaysian entities — Teach for Malaysia, St Nicholas’ Home Penang, and Liberty to Learn Berhad — were selected to be among the first 150 grant recipients of the inaugural Airbnb Community Fund, as part of Airbnb’s pledge to distribute USD100 million over 10 years to organisations that are strengthening communities around the world.
