Polokwane and Mankweng make AirBnb Top 10 small town list
Holiday makers are not the only ones benefitting from a domestic tourism boost with hosts in Polokwane and Mankweng and other areas in the top 10 profiting from bookings.
POLOKWANE – With a boost in domestic tourism and more travellers seeking hidden gems across the country, AirBnb has become a popular site for holiday makers.
Travellers are now looking at small towns, not only for getaways but for remote work stays, and Polokwane and Mankweng have made the top 10 list for Airbnb’s top trending small towns for local travel in South Africa.
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Ranking fifth on the list, AirBnb says Polokwane is close to many nature reserves which makes it ideal for spotting the likes of rhinoceroses or giraffes in their natural habitat and enjoying some of the best safaris in Africa.
But it’s not just the holiday maker that has benefitted from booking with AirBnb, as many hosts in these small towns are happy with return on investment.
“The rebound in domestic tourism is good news for local hosts and businesses battling increased living costs. Half of hosts across South Africa say they host to afford the rising cost of living, while over a third say the additional income helps them make ends meet,” a statement read.
The typical South African Host earns just over R26 000, which is equivalent to approximately one month’s additional pay for the average income earner by renting their space on Airbnb.
According to the site, bookings rose by almost 65% in the first half of this year compared to the same time in 2019 and a survey suggests that the rising cost of living is pushing guests to seek more affordable family travel on Airbnb.
“Three in five guests say booking on Airbnb saved money and one third said they specifically chose Airbnb over other types of accommodation to save money.”
Airbnb’s top trending small towns for local travel in South Africa include:
- Queenstown (Eastern Cape)
- Mahikeng (North-West)
- Witbank (Mpumalanga)
- Middelburg (Eastern Cape)
- Polokwane (Limpopo)
- Cullinan (Gauteng)
- Brakpan (Gauteng)
- Mankweng (Limpopo)
- Ceres (Western Cape)
- Midrand (Gauteng)
The regional director for Middle East Africa at Airbnb Velma Corcoran said it is fantastic to see South Africans embracing domestic travel as it spreads the benefits of tourism to all corners of the country.
“Airbnb was born during the Great Recession and once again, hosting is proving to be an economic lifeline for thousands of South African families looking to make ends meet.”
