An estimated RM583 million (US$144 million) was spent by Airbnb’s guest community at restaurants and cafes in Malaysia in 2018, according to new survey findings and analysis of internal data released yesterday.

The company said if spending levels remained the same, Airbnb guests were estimated to spend over RM878 million (US$212 million) at restaurants and cafes in the country in 2019.

According to the statement, many travelers feel a sense of belonging through local foods and flavors by educating themselves on a traditional recipe or discovering neighborhood restaurants and cafes, all while creating authentic memories and connections to a destination.

Airbnb guests around the globe spends US$25 billion in restaurants and cafes in 2018.

Across Asia, Airbnb guests spent at least an estimated US$2.4 billion at restaurants and cafes in 2018, including over US$212 million in Thailand, US$116 million in Indonesia, US$116 million in the Philippines, and US$58 million in Singapore.

Airbnb Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan general manager Mike Orgill commented that Airbnb has the ability to promote economic opportunity for hosts and the neighborhoods that welcome them, particularly local food establishments and support the Ministry of Tourism’s RM100 billion tourism receipt target.

Unique aspects of the Airbnb community are also helping to drive this spending to new places, forge offline connections and keep the benefits local.

Airbnb’s other findings from the survey include that 84 percent of Airbnb hosts said they recommended restaurants and cafes to guests, driving more people to visit places they might not otherwise discover online.

The guest spending at restaurants and cafes is based on Airbnb internal data covering 46 countries and regions and 14,000 responses to a voluntary survey sent to a sample of Airbnb guest accounts that had taken a trip in 2018.