With the festive season quick approaching, holidaymakers are turning to Airbnb for his or her short-term rental wants, pushed by the app’s ease of use and suppleness, a various vary of lodging choices, places, and oftentimes, pricing.

While Airbnb is thought to drive short-term rental demand throughout the globe, well-liked vacationer cities like Paris, London, and Croatia have, in truth, banned or restricted exercise.

Airbnb’s Growing Popularity During the Festive Season

In South Africa nevertheless, it continues to play a pivotal function within the restoration of the nation’s tourism sector and regardless of being met with some scepticism, it has modified the way in which through which we take a look at – and buy – funding properties. 

HOW to maximise South Africa’s public holidays in 2025

One of the preferred native locations on Airbnb over the festive season will undoubtedly be the ‘Mother City’. Voted by Time Out because the Second-Best City Globally to Live and Visit earlier this 12 months, Cape Town continues to draw waves of holiday makers over the festive season, with Cape Town International Airport recording foot visitors by 317,000 two-way worldwide passengers in December 2023 alone. 

Airbnb additionally cites that the excessive demand and subsequent excessive provide of Airbnbs within the City will enable virtually half of Cape Town’s hosts to afford their properties. The platform goes on to say that Cape Town welcomed 700,000 visitors, contributing an estimated R14.4 billion to the GDP.

Although Cape Town is an apparent vacation vacation spot, unknown to many, Bela-Bela in Limpopo was South Africa’s prime performer on Airbnb in 2022 with bookings surging by greater than 400%. In addition, the Free State and KwaZulu additionally got here out on prime – proof that organising a short-term let in provinces throughout the nation is a viable possibility for traders.  

‘My homeland’: Festive season reveals what expats love about SA

Thinking of Airbnbing? Some Important Considerations

If you wish to get into short-term leases by way of Airbnb, then there are some key concerns to bear in mind.

While the monetary and suppleness advantages of this rental possibility are important, there are additionally some potential drawbacks, together with:

• Higher working prices (cleansing, upkeep, administration charges and many others.). 
• Management and administration necessities. 
• Fluctuation in demand which requires money stream and ahead planning. 
• Service charges related to Airbnb.
• Standing out on a saturated platform – with so many choices to select from.

Ways to maximise short-term rental earnings

Standing out and maximising your earnings requires a strategic mixture of efficient administration, advertising and marketing and customer support. 

Here are my prime tricks to stand out from the gang:

• Have a strategic pricing technique: Platforms like Airbnb supply dynamic pricing, which makes use of an algorithm to regulate charges primarily based on demand, native occasions and seasonality. You also can appeal to visitors by providing reductions for longer stays or last-minute bookings.
• Carefully put together your property: Keep it clear and nicely maintained and spend money on high quality furnishings and décor to make your property stand out.
• Invest in skilled images: High-quality pictures can considerably enhance your itemizing’s attraction so be sure to seize it in the most effective gentle.
• Optimise your itemizing: Write an in depth property description that features related key phrases to enhance search engine visibility. Be certain to spotlight the distinctive promoting factors and facilities of your itemizing.
• Encourage visitors to depart optimistic evaluations after their keep: A excessive score will influence your reserving charges.
• Communicate successfully: Respond rapidly to visitor messages and handle time-sensitive points to keep up a excessive stage of customer support.
• Consider hiring a property administration firm: They can deal with day-to-day duties and assist streamline check-in and out processes for optimum visitor comfort. 
• Personalise the visitor expertise: Special touches like welcome presents and native suggestions can go a great distance in making a memorable keep and securing repeat visitors.
• List your property on a number of platforms to increase attain and maximise occupancy.

Tourists swarm into Mpumalanga during festive season

We would additionally advocate utilizing analytics instruments to trace your rental efficiency, occupancy charges, and income and adjusting your technique primarily based on these insights.