Chinese travelers have become big consumers of shared accommodation overseas, with their footprint extending from Asia to the United States, Europe and Australia. Travelers on sightseeing and leisure tours are the main consumers, and most of them travel with friends and families.

Young Chinese travelers are increasingly opting out of traditional hotels in favor of shared accommodation. Yang Feiyue reports.

Wang Haining, a seasoned traveler, who has visited many cities both at home and abroad, chooses to avoid conventional hotels and instead opts for homestay, as he says it is more cost-effective and his host can introduce him to the local culture.

“It’s a convenient way to get useful tips and gain a firsthand experience of local life,” says Wang, who began using house-sharing platforms, such as Airbnb, Xiaozhu and Tangguo, on the recommendation of a friend.

“This way of traveling allows me to interact with local residents and get a better understanding of local culture and customs,” he says.

There are a growing number of Chinese travelers opting for peer-to-peer accommodation when traveling.

According to a report jointly published by Airbnb and the China Tourism Academy, Chinese travelers have become big consumers of sharing accommodation overseas, and their footprint extends from Asia to the United States, Europe and Australia.

Chinese travelers have become big consumers of shared accommodation overseas, with their footprint extending from Asia to the United States, Europe and Australia. Travelers on sightseeing and leisure tours are the main consumers, and most of them travel with friends and families. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Airbnb tracked 1.6 million users abroad by Chinese travelers last year, up 142 percent over the previous year.

Those who were born in the 1980s and 1990s account for 83 percent of all users.

Travelers on sightseeing and leisure tours are the main sharing accommodation consumers, and most of them travel with friends and families, the report says.

Travel periods span four to seven days.

More meaningful social interactions with locals and unique experiences, as well as reduced costs that allow travelers to enjoy destinations and tourism activities that would otherwise be out of reach because of the cost were the major reasons cited for Chinese traveler’s choosing of shared accommodation.