Airbnb’s Impact in Scotland
Airbnb’s Economic Impact in United Kingdom
Hosting on Airbnb creates an additional income stream for hosts, fuels visitor spending in communities, supports jobs across multiple industries and contributes substantial tax revenue for local governments.
£9B+
In Total Economic Contribution to GDP1
£2B+
In Total Tax Revenue1
200,000+
Total Jobs Supported1
Estimated economic impact figures listed are for United Kingdom. Learn more about the economic impact methodology.
Host Community Snapshot
Understanding the motivations and demographics of hosts on Airbnb
59%
of hosts confirm hosting on Airbnb is not their primary occupation2
48%
of hosts say hosting on Airbnb allows them to meet the rising cost of living2
40%
of hosts confirm hosting on Airbnb has helped them stay in their home2
52%
of hosts self-report having a total annual household income below £50K2
62%
of hosts self-identify as women3
23%
of hosts self-report being over 60 years of age3
£10,000+
Typical annual earnings for hosts4
Guest Community Snapshot
Understanding why guests travelling to Scotland choose Airbnb.
13%
of guests travelling with children: trips with at least one child or infant on the reservation3
23%
of guests who say their trip could not have been accommodated by hotels2
35%
Guests whose trip originated within 300 kilometres (186 miles) of their destination5
Guest Origins5
- Greater London, England, United Kingdom
- Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Manchester, England, United Kingdom
- Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom
1 as of 31 December 2025
2 Self-reported through a survey to the Airbnb community from July 2025 to June 2026
3 Self-reported on Airbnb Platform as of 30 June 2026
4 Airbnb data for 2025, "typical" means median
5 Airbnb trip data for 12-month period ending on 30 June 2026
Housing and Economic Impact Study
An analysis of the economic footprint of travel on Airbnb, reviewing its impact on housing affordability at national, regional and local levels.
A new study by Ernst & Young has found that Airbnb has little to no significant impact on the price and availability of housing in the UK – and that over 95 per cent of house price increases can be attributed to factors unrelated to short-term rentals, such as increases in income and inflation.
It is widely acknowledged that the UK has failed to build enough homes to keep pace with demand pressures for years, with independent estimates finding that the UK has a shortfall in housing supply of around 5 million homes. Meanwhile, Airbnb data has found that the majority of hosts in the UK list one space and 40% say that the extra income helps them to afford their home.
The report was commissioned by Airbnb and was based on a quantitative assessment of Airbnb data alongside information collected from publicly available sources.
City Portal
