Airbnb's Impact in Sergipe

Multiple studies show that short-term rentals, like those offered through Airbnb, have little to no impact on housing availability in a given area or on residents’ ability to afford to live in their city. Globally, nearly half of Hosts say the income they earn from short-term rentals helps them afford their own homes. Three in four Hosts rent out just one listing, typically for a few days a month. For example, according to internal Airbnb data, across the platform’s top 50 cities worldwide, entire-home listings booked for more than 90 nights in 2023 represented just 0.5% of the existing housing stock.

Experts and economists point out that the main drivers of rising rents and home prices are, in fact, structural, such as limited housing supply, zoning restrictions and economic factors like interest rates and inflation.

Airbnb is part of the solution for absorbing tourism growth in cities and for spreading tourism more widely, since guests can discover new destinations outside urban centers and find a place to stay on Airbnb. As a result, the benefits of travel are shared with more destinations and communities.

According to internal Airbnb data, most Airbnb stays worldwide take place outside major cities. In addition, research shows that more than half of Airbnb guests (51%) said they would not have visited the community where they stayed if the listing they booked on the platform had not been available.

In Brazil, short-term rentals are governed mainly by the Tenancy Law (Lei do Inquilinato, Law No. 8,245/1991), without prejudice to other legislation that applies to specific aspects of the activity, such as taxation, personal data protection, consumer rights, condominium relations and safety, among others.

Today, about 80% of Airbnb’s top 200 destinations worldwide already have some form of short-term rental regulation. Airbnb works with more than 1,000 governments to balance the benefits of short-term rentals with the needs of communities.

Research has shown that strict regulations on the activity don’t work. A report by Charles River Associates commissioned by Airbnb estimates that, in New York City alone, short-term rental restrictions resulted in $197 million in lost Host income, $638 million in lost business revenue, $82 million in lost tax revenue and 2.6 million fewer guest nights. They found similar patterns in Boston, New Orleans and Philadelphia. The report concludes that “when state and local governments pass strict short-term rental laws that suppress competition, they undermine the city’s financial interests and impose significant, far-reaching costs on the residents of their communities.” 

Airbnb’s work so far is just the beginning. The platform will continue working with governments around the world to expand the positive impact of short-term rentals, supporting families and strengthening communities.

Yes. Hosts who offer properties as short-term rentals are subject to income tax on that income, in accordance with the rules that apply to each case. Taxation may vary depending on the Host’s profile and structure (individual or legal entity). The platform, in turn, pays the taxes due on the services it provides, including ISS (municipal service tax), where applicable.

Airbnb generates additional tax revenue that benefits communities. The platform partners with governments and authorities around the world to help Hosts understand and meet their obligations. In Brazil, Airbnb created the Tax Resource Center (Centro de Recursos Fiscais). In fact, Airbnb has collected and remitted more than $17.3 billion in tourism taxes worldwide on behalf of Hosts.

A study by Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV), based on 2024 data, shows that short-term rental activity generated R$99.8 billion in economic activity in Brazil, adding R$55.8 billion to GDP, supporting 627,600 jobs and generating R$8 billion in direct taxes¹. Guest spending goes beyond accommodation, reaching restaurants, transportation, retail and services: according to FGV, for every R$10 spent on accommodation, another R$52 is generated in other sectors, resulting in R$28.3 billion in income for workers and small businesses.

This impact also helps decentralize tourism and reaches every region of the country: R$54.9 billion in the Southeast, R$22.1 billion in the South, R$16.9 billion in the Northeast, R$4.7 billion in the Center-West and R$1.2 billion in the North.

^{1 FGV, “Airbnb: Economic Impacts and Benefits in Brazil” (2025). The study uses input-output methodology and accounts for direct impacts (guest and Host spending) and indirect impacts (purchases generated along the supply chain).}

Airbnb was born in 2007, when two Hosts welcomed three guests into their San Francisco home. Today, the platform has 5.5 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 2.5 billion guests in almost every country in the world. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and experiences that allow travelers to experience other communities in a more authentic way.

This is only possible because Airbnb was designed to build trust and promote safe stays. Whether you’re a Host, a guest or a neighbor of a listing on the platform, Airbnb is committed to creating effective tools and policies, backed by strong enforcement, to support community safety, responsible travel and respect for neighbors. This commitment includes banning unauthorized parties and indoor cameras, requiring secure payments and background checks, and developing tools to help block high-risk bookings.

In addition, in times of crisis and environmental disasters, Airbnb.org makes it easier for neighbors to support each other.