Women renting out their properties on Airbnb in Thailand earned a combined 2.8 billion baht in 2018, a 45% increase from the previous year, according to the accommodation sharing service. The number of female Airbnb hosts in Thailand also grew by 22% in 2018, it said.

'Airbnb is privileged to support women's empowerment through our platform,' says Mich Goh, head of public policy for Southeast Asia.

Women make up 53% of Airbnb's host community in Thailand, with average annual income from rentals of 78,000 baht. "The advent of technology has opened up multiple opportunities for female hospitality entrepreneurs who are passionate about driving a creative and meaningful tourism industry," Airbnb said in a release.

Airbnb is still illegal in Thailand, but enforcement has been light so far. Two condominium owners who rented units on a daily and weekly basis via Airbnb were convicted in January 2018 of operating a hotel business without a licence, in violation of the Hotels Act.

However, thousands of property owners earn extra income via Airbnb, which is expected to continue to thrive in a legal grey area alongside the likes of the ride-hailing service Grab -- at least until authorities get around to updating local laws.

While Airbnb says it is working with Thai authorities to address regulatory issues, it continues to expand and offer new opportunities on its platform. Beyond home hosting, it is promoting Airbnb Experiences -- unique activities that are handcrafted and led by local experts showcasing a unique side of their home country.

"The rapid growth of Airbnb Experiences in Thailand has enabled more women to become entrepreneurs by sharing their passions and skills," the company said. "In Bangkok, women make up 60% of all Experience hosts on the platform."

In 2018 alone, women around the world earned the equivalent of 381 billion baht through the Airbnb platform, representing more than half of the global Airbnb community, said Mich Goh, head of public policy for Southeast Asia.

The Experiences programme has expanded beyond urban centres to secondary cities and rural provinces in Thailand, Ms Goh said.

"From meeting Pranee, a home host in Saraburi, to hearing how Sa, an Experiences host from the Karen hilltribe in Chiang Mai, teaches tourists traditional weaving to provide financial support for her village, Airbnb is privileged to support women's empowerment through our platform," she said.

Airbnb said its data also reflects the growing percentage of female hosts in both first and second-tier cities, where access to technology encourages more female participation in the tourism industry.

"Whether it is showcasing Thailand's gastronomy scene to international travellers, or helping locals rediscover their own backyard through local arts and culture, I am heartened that women are stepping up as hospitality entrepreneurs and strengthening communities," Jutamas Wisansing, chair of the Thailand chapter of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, told a recent forum co-hosted by Airbnb.

Airbnb is continuing its efforts to digitise tourism through a partnership with the Department of Local Administration at the Interior Ministry.

Since the partnership began last year, Airbnb says it has collaborated with local officials, Airbnb Superhosts and community leaders to train and equip local hosts in Thailand with key digital and hospitality skills.