Airbnb and the sharing economy

A large share of growth in the sharing or platform economy is driven by peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation providers such as Airbnb. The literature argues for both positive and negative socio-cultural, economic and environmental impacts emanating from the tourism and hospitality businesses and value chains that are dependent on AirBnB and other online platforms. These impacts are felt in terms of competition with more traditional business models (e.g. hotels, motels and B&Bs) and their influence on tourist and visitor flows as well as their spatial impacts that has led to substantial community opposition to accommodation providers that utilise Airbnb in some destinations. This introduction to the special issue on AirBnB and the sharing economy identifies several themes in the consumption and production of the sharing, peer-to-peer and platform economies on tourism at various scales, ranging from international networks, destinations and business, through to neighbourhoods and individuals. Although Airbnb provides the primary frame by which to investigate the relationships between the sharing economy and tourism and the implications of so-called disruptive innovation this introduction also notes some of the wider implications of the sharing and platform economy for people and places.