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A bedroom in an Airbnb listed house in Carlow. Airbnb

Irish hosts are making very nice pocket money from Airbnb

330,000 guests have used Airbnb to visit Ireland in the past year.

AIRBNB CONTRIBUTES €202 MILLION to the Irish economy in a year.

A report released today also shows that the accommodation website supported 2,020 jobs from October 2014 to September 2015.

This is the first study to look at the impacts of Airbnb in Ireland, and comes after similar studies across the world, including in France, New York, London and Madrid.

It was conducted in collaboration with Irish economist David McWilliams, and looked at all travel to Ireland during the 12 month period selected.

The study found that Airbnb hosts use the money they earn from sharing their homes to pay rent and other bills.

air income Airbnb Airbnb

The report also found that:

  • 330,000 guests have used Airbnb to visit Ireland in the past year, and 213,000 Irish residents have used Airbnb to explore the world.
  • Airbnb listings in Ireland have more than doubled since 2010 and span more than 500 cities, towns and villages in all Irish counties.
  • In the past year, 7,200 Irish hosts welcomed guests into their homes. The typical host earned €2,600 a year by sharing their space for 46 nights a year.
  • 60% of hosts in Ireland said the additional income helped them stay in their homes, and 15% of hosts used this income to help start a new business.
  • Airbnb guests spend an average of €561 per visitor per trip. They want ‘authentic travel experiences’; 83% want to live like a local and 75% want to explore a specific neighbourhood.
  • Over 90% of guests would recommend the Airbnb listing they stayed in to friends and family.
  • Almost 80% of guests said their experience on Airbnb made them more likely to return to the city they visited, and almost 25% of guests would not have gone on their trip or stayed as long without Airbnb.

Patrick Robinson, head of public policy at Airbnb, said the company is good for the Irish economy because it “helps grow and diversify tourism, spreads benefits to new communities and local businesses, and is a lifeline for thousands of Irish residents, helping them stay in their homes and support their families”.

air hosts Airbnb Airbnb

“We want to work with everyone in Ireland on progressive measures to support Irish residents who share their homes to help make ends meet,” Robinson stated.

“Airbnb shows how quickly the sharing economy is changing the traditional economy,” David McWilliams said.

“It is a disruptive trend that will change how, why, where and when we travel, which will have profound effects on the economy in the years ahead,” he added.

Read: 13 amazing Airbnbs you can stay in right here in Ireland

Read: Three 20-something entrepreneurs just launched an Airbnb for refugees

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22 Comments
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    Mute Niamh May
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    Mar 12th 2016, 9:28 AM

    What the f@ck is going on with the judicial system in this country??

    115
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    Mute eastsmer
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    Mar 12th 2016, 9:35 AM

    No idea but the article is about Bangor, Co. Down where a different judicial system is in operation.

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    Mute Niamh May
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    Mar 12th 2016, 9:48 AM

    True enough but still a joke.

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    Mute Bryan Kelly
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    Mar 12th 2016, 10:24 AM

    Look at how long it took them to pass legislation on “online grooming”. It’s difficult to criminalise behaviour that’s indicative of future crimes without the actual commission of the crime, total legal quagmire.

    The simple fact he was detained and only released under bail conditions for vaguely defined “suspicious approaches” is a result of expanded child protection laws, of which the North has more stringent ones than we do.

    I’d like to know what the charges would be if prosecution went ahead. Also, what are the bail conditions? Hopefully stringent enough so he can be charged if and/or when he breaks them, and it’s not a matter of waiting for him to commit a more easily prosecutable crime.

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    Mute Diana M.
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    Mar 12th 2016, 2:08 PM

    Honestly. I’m starting to suspect pedophile judges.

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    Mute Phil O' Connor
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    Mar 12th 2016, 9:36 AM

    Our judicial system is as bad if not worse

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    Mute Phil O' Connor
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    Mar 12th 2016, 9:35 AM

    Ffs. ..another one loose again

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    Mute John Killeen
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    Mar 12th 2016, 9:44 AM

    Nutcracker the only job for that animal

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    Mute Alanearls
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    Mar 12th 2016, 9:47 AM

    Hopefully his file rather than been passed to the courts office makes its way in a brown envelope out the back door and to a group of lads that will have a chat with him that involves a coal bag full of chimney cleaning rods,

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    Mute Darragh
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    Mar 12th 2016, 10:07 AM

    Coming out of chimney sweeping season! Another career could be better

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    Mute Alan Lawlor
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    Mar 12th 2016, 12:47 PM

    A year or so ago, there was an alert about a strange man approaching children outside our local school.
    When the panic and lynch mob calmed down, it transpired the man had learning difficulties and was simply lonely and could relate to children more than adults.
    It is right that we are all vigilant and that we get police to investigate matters, but let’s slow down with the fire torches and pitchforks and let our justice system deal with it calmly

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    Mute Joey Gee
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    Mar 12th 2016, 10:22 AM

    Once upon a long ago, a certain loyalist paramilitary group, well known for being strongly connected to certain child abusers, ran the Kilcooley estate.
    Must still be in charge.

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    Mute Kathleen Henderson
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    Mar 12th 2016, 9:32 AM

    He’s released on bail with severe conditions I presume.Its incredible.

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    Mute Donal Carey
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    Mar 12th 2016, 10:30 AM

    That’s good thinking wait until he assaults or kills some child then arrest him . I will never understand the system

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    Mute Alan Scott
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    Mar 12th 2016, 11:33 AM

    His mind set he is going to be locked up anyway with this in mind he could strike again with terrible consequences for some family . Very risky to release him.

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    Mute Shaun Gallagher
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    Mar 12th 2016, 9:42 AM

    That’s sounds about right

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