Capes region among top destinations for Airbnb operators according to new data from AirDNA

The Margaret River region has been named the fifth most prolific destination for Airbnbs in the nation.

The listing confirmed the region’s prominence, and also saw metropolitan Perth come first in the top five with the new data compiled by international analytics company AirDNA.

AirDNA’s market score out of 100 factors in rental demand, revenue growth, seasonality and regulation.

The Augusta-Margaret River region beat Sydney with a slightly higher occupancy rate of 67 per cent and revenue per available room of $229 compared to Sydney’s $218.

Brisbane came in second followed by the Whitsundays and Canberra in fourth.

Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association chief executive Sharna Kearney said all accommodation types had seen higher occupancy and room rates since the pandemic.

“It is uncertain whether these metrics will be sustained as we begin to return to more seasonal visitation patterns and WA residents grow in their confidence to travel outbound,” she said.

“Continued regulation of the short-term registered accommodation sector is important to ensure a quality visitor experience and to level the playing field with traditional accommodation providers.

“MRBTA is supportive of the work that the State and local governments here are doing to reform and more closely regulate the short-stay market.”

Last month, the State Government legislated to establish a registry of short-term accommodation as part of a raft of reforms to address the impact WA’s booming Airbnb market has had on the State’s housing crisis.

From July, Airbnb owners will have to pay an initial $250 registration fee plus an additional annual fee of $100 and all short stays must be registered by the start of next year.