More Filipinos visited Da Nang and Hanoi in Vietnam in the first half compared to last year as they expanded their holiday destinations and gained more diverse travel experiences, according to global travel service Trip.com.
Trip.com said its booking data showed that bookings made by Filipino travelers in Da Nang from January to June surged by 483 percent year-on-year.
Meanwhile, Filipinos’ bookings in Hanoi via Trip.com rose by 145 percent annually over the six months, the travel service firm said.
‘While Vietnam remains a popular choice, Trip. com booking data shows travelers are looking beyond its traditional gateways,’ it said.
‘This growth exhibits how travelers are not simply revisiting the same destinations – they’re expanding beyond gateway cities. Filipino travelers are eager to explore destinations beyond its popularized tourist spots and gain more diverse travel experiences,’ it added.
Filipinos are also exploring newer countries as they become ‘more confident’ in trying new destinations that were once ‘considered niche,’ Trip.com said.
Some of the emerging destinations for Filipino travelers are Palau, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Australia and Canada, according to Trip.com.
Trip.com data showed that Filipinos’ bookings in Palau rose by 663 percent year-on-year while bookings in Oman and Saudi Arabia expanded by 482 percent and 145 percent, respectively.
The growth in bookings in these countries, Trip. com said, is supported by expanding flight connectivity, greater destination awareness and a desire for new travel experiences.
Trip.com noted that nearby Asian destinations still dominate bookings made by Filipinos due to convenience, shorter flight times and value. The leading international bookings among Filipino travelers in the first half were Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok and Taipei, according to Trip.com.
‘Destination choice, however, is only part of the itinerary. Trip.com booking trends also reveal that the activities and attractions travelers plan to visit influence their chosen destinations,’ Trip.com said.
Some of the most booked attractions by Filipinos were at globally recognized entertainment destinations like Hong Kong Disneyland, Ocean Park Hong Kong, Universal Studios Singapore and Universal Studios Japan.
‘The popularity of these attractions among travelers exhibits how leisure experiences remain central to outbound travel plans. Travelers, whether families, couples and friend groups, continue to prioritize experiential travel over purely sightseeing itineraries,’ Trip.com said.