Ahead of Women’s Day 2025 (on March 8), the global vacation rental platform Airbnb has released data on its female hosts in India, saying that 30 per cent of all Indian hosts are women, and that collectively they have earned more than INR 2.6 billion (USD 29.9 million) in the past year.
The figures support a December 2023 article titled ‘Impact of Tourism Industry on Women Empowerment in India’, which said that the tourism industry, “which contributes around 5 per cent to the GDP of India and has the potential to improve the lives of the people with its trickle-down effect” could create jobs in different regions for “a diverse workforce, especially women”.
In its latest data sets on Indian female hosts, Airbnb says that women are “shaping the future of hospitality with inclusivity and economic opportunities”.
The following are some of the Airbnb figures related to female hosts and female travellers:
● Almost 35 per cent “Guest Favourite” listings in India are hosted by women, showcasing their excellence in hospitality.
● More than 56 per cent female Airbnb hosts have received 5-star reviews from guests.
● Goa, Delhi, Bengaluru, Pune, and Jaipur were the most preferred domestic destinations for female Indian travellers in 2024.
● London, Dubai, Bangkok, Paris, and Rome were the most preferred international destinations for female Indian travellers in 2024.
● Among female Indian travellers, those in the “Millennials” age group topped the chart among Airbnb guests, followed by those in the “Gen Z” age group.
● Duo travel followed by group trips emerged as the most popular trip types for female Indian travellers.
Amanpreet Singh Bajaj, Airbnb Country Head for India and Southeast Asia, said, “At Airbnb, we’re committed to accelerating action for gender equality by creating a platform where women can thrive, and our strong community of women hosts and guests is a testament to that.”
Our data shows that women hosts are delivering exceptional hospitality while achieving financial independence, and women travellers are increasingly exploring the world with confidence. This International Women’s Day, we recognise that we must collectively accelerate our efforts.
Amanpreet Singh Bajaj, Airbnb Country Head for India and Southeast Asia
A quick search on Instagram shows that many Indian women are talking about the economic benefits of being a travel host. For instance, an entrepreneur with the Instagram handle @priyaabanggari has declared recently that she has achieved “superhost” status.
Her January 9 post says: “While I’m focused on building a tech-based AI product to reshape the future, hosting beautiful spaces has been my creative escape and side hustle. Today, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve achieved Airbnb Superhost status!”
This concept of a “side hustle” — a small business that gives one a steady income while one is focused on a bigger career goal — appears to be the factor bringing more and more Indian women into the travel and tourism space.
35 per cent growth in demand from women travellers across India
The Airbnb data on Indian women’s travel is complemented by a report from leading travel agencies Thomas Cook and SOTC. A media report on March 6 says that Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel “have reported a 35 per cent growth in demand from women travellers across India, according to their Women’s Travel Trend Report 2025”, released ahead of International Women’s Day.
The Women’s Travel Trend Report 2025 has highlighted that more and more female Indian travellers are opting for adventure experiences — this travel segment has seen a 37 increase in demand from Indian women.
Other growing travel segments are spa and wellness tourism (28 per cent growth); cruise holidays (23 per cent growth); and culinary experiences (17 per cent growth).
Milestone celebrations have emerged as a key tourism driver, as 35 per cent of Indian women choose to travel for special occasions.
According to this Thomas Cook-SOTC report, female Indian travellers are also spending 15-20 per cent more year-on-year, with budgets ranging from INR 1-1.5 lakh for domestic trips to INR 4-5 lakh for long-haul destinations.
Popular domestic destinations, as per this report, include Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, and Goa; while international picks are Thailand, Malaysia, and Switzerland.
