Online short-term stays platform Airbnb has supplied the Mercury with a series of figures. 

According to Airbnb, in the 12 months to January 1, 2019, local hosts in Wollongong earned $8.5 million in income and hosted more than 50,000 guests.

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Also, more than 50,000 people from Wollongong stayed in an Airbnb listing in the past 12 months. There were 910 active listings in Wollongong during this 12-month period, with a typical income from letting of $9500 each. 

There were 50,100 inbound guest arrivals, and 55,400 outbound guest arrivals. 

There were a total of 43,000 nights booked in Wollongong during 2018 via Airbnb, and the typical host shared their property for 28 nights over the year. 

Also, 70 per cent of Airbnb hosts in Wollongong last year were female, and 19 per cent were aged over 60. 

“In 2018, our community in Wollongong grew strongly with more local families and small businesses benefiting from the opportunities created by home sharing,” Airbnb Australia country manager Sam McDonagh said.

“Last year, Wollongong hosts earned more than $8.5 million in extra income.

“That’s $8.5 million more in income to pay the bills, to pay the mortgage or to pay for the family holiday.”

According to the 2016 Census data, the median household yearly income in Wollongong was $61,360.

“The typical Airbnb host in Wollongong earned an extra $180 a week in income, the equivalent of a 15 per cent pay rise,” Mr McDonagh said. 

“We are also seeing more Wollongong locals use Airbnb as guests and enjoy our community’s unique, high-quality and affordable accommodation.

“We expect this strong growth to continue in 2019, and look forward to helping more Australians earn extra income and enjoy authentic, affordable holidays.”

According to Airbnb, there has been an 80 per cent year-on-year growth in the number of people from Wollongong using Airbnb as guests. 

In Kiama during the past 12 months, Airbnb hosts earned a total of $2.5 million. 

There were 240 active listings there, 13,200 inbound guest arrivals and 5400 outbound guest arrivals. 

Meanwhile, guests and hosts of Airbnb-style letting will be banned from short-term rentals for five years if they repeatedly disrupt neighbours, after the NSW Parliament passed the government’s plan for the short-term holiday letting industry last August. 

A new Code of Conduct to manage noise levels and disruptive behaviour will also come into force this year.

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