Airbnb is closing its domestic rentals in China, where a “zero Covid” policy has meant lockdowns are ongoing.
All listings for homes and experiences in the country will be removed from the company’s website by the summer, a source familiar with the matter told the BBC.
Stays within China have accounted for just 1% of Airbnb’s revenue in recent years.
The company is expected to instead focus on Chinese residents traveling abroad to other destinations.
Before the pandemic, Chinese travelers going abroad had tripled in less than a decade, reaching 155 million trips in 2019, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organization.
But as of 2020, China has had some of the toughest Covid restrictions in the world, making travel in and around the country extremely difficult.
Airbnb started its business in China in 2016. Since then, around 25 million guests have booked stays there through the online home rental company.
However, a source familiar with the company’s decision said domestic rental operations for travelers visiting China were complicated and expensive even before the pandemic.
For example, guest data was sent to the Chinese government in accordance with local laws and regulations, and the company faced stiff competition from native Chinese home rental platforms.
In 2017, as part of its expansion drive, it renamed the Chinese operation to Aibiying (爱彼迎) — meaning to welcome each other with love — which is easier for Mandarin speakers to pronounce.
Add Comment