From Business Tech

Year-on-year supply and demand for internet accommodation service Airbnb is exploding in South Africa with triple-digit percentage growth.

This is according to Airbnb general manager for the Middle East and Africa Nicola D’Elia, who is visiting South Africa this week.

Airbnb uses internet technology to enable ordinary property owners to rent out rooms and even entire homes to guests from anywhere in the world.

The number of South African homes listed on Airbnb has jumped from around 9 000 in July this year to 13 000, said D’Elia.

But on a year-on-year basis, he told Fin24 the service has grown 163% in terms of local homes listed, while the number of nights booked in South Africa has increased 259%.

South Africa is Airbnb’s biggest African market followed by Morocco, which has 9 000 homes, said D’Elia.

“It’s a bit like the S-curve where we’re now at that point where growth is becoming exponential,” D’Elia told Fin24.

“So, I think there is still huge potential.”

At this stage it is hard to determine if demand is outstripping supply as hosts can have multiple night bookings from different guests, D’Elia explained.

Read more at Business Tech