Airbnb announced Tuesday that it will discontinue domestic operations in China and instead focus on serving Chinese users traveling abroad amid the ongoing COVID-19 lockdowns in China.
The San Francisco-based company said in a letter posted to its social media account that it will remove all Chinese listings and experiences from its platform on July 30.
Airbnb co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk said that the company has opted to refocus its efforts in China on outbound travel, enabling Chinese users to book listings and experiences abroad.
“The decision was not easy for us and I know that it is even more difficult for you,” Blecharczyk said. “We’ve built and grown a thriving host community in China together and have welcomed more than 25 million guest arrivals since 2016.”…