Airbnb: Wanderlust back on tourism recovery

Outbound travel this summer among Chinese tourists looks promising with an appetite for exploration, a diverse range of destinations being considered and a desire for more immersive travel experiences, said US-based lodging and short-term vacation rental provider Airbnb.

Airbnb has seen a continued and steady recovery across the entire Asia-Pacific region, with a 48 percent increase year-on-year in nights and experiences booked in the first quarter, compared with the same period last year.

China has played a significant role in driving this growth, said Nathan Blecharczyk, Airbnb's co-founder and chief strategy officer, and chairman of Airbnb China, adding that "China's outbound travel has been and we believe will continue to be a cornerstone of growth in the Asia-Pacific region."

China's outbound tourism sector has shown signs of a strong recovery since the beginning of the year. Blecharczyk said he is bullish on the prospects of outbound tourism in the Chinese market.

Data from Airbnb showed that the number of Chinese users searching for early summer outbound stays between July 1 and July 15 surged nearly sixfold compared with a year prior.

"Chinese travelers are venturing further and exploring many diverse destinations. Southeast Asian countries, such as Thailand and Indonesia, remain dominant destinations," he said, adding there is a significant increase in interest in the mid-to-long haul destinations.