Airbnb highlights Maharashtra’s rise as India’s event tourism hub

Airbnb’s latest report, Unlocking Maharashtra’s Event Economy: Powering Tourism and Local Communities, reveals how concerts, sporting events, and cultural festivals are driving tourism demand and visitor spending across the state, positioning Maharashtra as a key hub for event-led travel in India.

Key Findings:
- World Cup 2023: Nights stayed in Maharashtra rose 50% year-on-year, with guest check-ins up 75% during match windows.
- Coldplay Concerts 2025: Mumbai saw a 100% increase in nights booked and a 170% surge in arrivals during concert dates.
- Lollapalooza India 2026: Bookings in Mumbai grew 50x year-on-year, with the festival weekend accounting for 80% of all January bookings.

Travel Behaviour Trends:
- Younger Indians are increasingly planning trips around concerts and festivals.
- Average event-led trips cost around ₹51,000, with six in ten travellers allocating 21–40% of monthly income to music-led travel.
- For every ₹1,000 spent on a concert ticket, an additional ₹1,500–₹2,000 flows into the wider tourism economy.

Economic Impact:
- In 2025, Airbnb guest spending contributed USD 832 million to India’s economy and supported 222,000 jobs across sectors.
- Flexible accommodation through local homes helps expand capacity near event venues, supporting neighbourhood economies.

Leadership Insights:
- Amanpreet Bajaj, Country Head – India & Southeast Asia, Airbnb: “Events are increasingly shaping how people travel, and Maharashtra is already seeing how this translates into longer stays and more local economic activity.”

- Rahul Sharma, Managing Director – India, U.S.-India Business Council: “Destinations like Maharashtra that have the scale, connectivity, and event pipeline to anchor India’s event economy will lead the next phase of tourism growth.”