Airbnb sees surge in domestic tourism as year-end demand rises
Airbnb is reporting a rise in local travel demand for the 2025 holiday season, with Puerto Rican users driving most of the platform’s domestic activity.
According to internal data, 45% of island-based searches are coming from groups and another 25% from families, signaling year-end momentum for Puerto Rico’s internal tourism economy.
The platform said its users are choosing to vacation on the island rather than travel abroad, making local destinations a preferred option for family gatherings and group trips.
Booking patterns remain steady among hosts. Nearly 60% of groups are selecting stays of two to six nights, a trend mirrored by more than half of families planning vacations of similar duration.
“At Airbnb, we are committed to promoting more inclusive and sustainable tourism. We’re thrilled to see more Puerto Ricans exploring new regions of the island, helping diversify the tourism economy and allowing more communities to benefit from local tourism,” said Carlos Muñoz, Airbnb’s director of public policy for Central America and the Caribbean.
Airbnb also reported growing engagement from senior travelers. Among users older than 60, about 45% of searches are for domestic stays, and nearly 60% choose trips shorter than a week.
The company said older travelers have become more active during the end-of-year period, contributing to overall demand for lodging.
The holiday season, the company noted, continues to be one of the strongest periods for domestic travel as families reconnect, explore different parts of the island and support small tourism-driven communities. Airbnb said these trends reinforce its goal of spreading economic activity to regions that traditionally receive fewer visitors.
The company said it will continue to focus on sustainable and inclusive tourism efforts in Puerto Rico.
