AS travel restrictions gradually ease up in different parts of the country, a new survey looks at emerging trends and opportunities for the local tourism industry.
According to Airbnb’s Philippines Travel Trends Survey 2021 with data analytics firm YouGov, at least six out of 10 Filipino chose family vacations as the primary reason to travel this year, outranking business and shopping as key motivators.
It found that 88 percent of those surveyed felt more connected with their families during the pandemic, while 60 percent of the respondents are planning on connecting with their immediate and extended families on their first trip.
“It’s not difficult to understand the brewing pent-up demand for travel. People are not able now to do something they took for granted in the past. That’s why Filipinos want to connect as soon as they can,” shared Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb general manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan, in a recent virtual event organized by the global travel platform.
Safety and affordability are prime concerns in choosing lodging, with 64 percent of respondents saying they consider health and safety protocols in deciding on their accommodations for their next trip, followed by affordability.
Over half of all respondents also expressed preference for traveling to less crowded, off-the-beaten-path destinations, away from mass tourist hotspots.
Interestingly, popular travel hubs like Boracay emerged as the top destination among the respondents, followed closely by Palawan, Baguio, Siargao and Tagaytay.
Road trips are expected to gain traction as the top choice for Filipinos’ first trip post-pandemic, as respondents indicated that they wanted to travel close to nature and places outside their communities well within driving distance.
“People are more likely to start traveling near to their places and so local and domestic tourism is going to be something that takes center stage before borders open up and cross-border travel resumes,” said Bajaj.
Meanwhile, there is great interest in, and wide support for, sustainable tourism to shape the industry’s recovery.
“Travelers are looking at slower, more mindful travel amid nature. We believe that travel is resilient and will bounce back in time,” said Bajaj.
Bajaj added that they are supporting government efforts to revive local tourism as it pledged to drive sustainable long-term growth for its “Stays and Experiences” to help local Airbnb hosts and guests community.
Research from Oxford Economics found that Airbnb contributed $1 billion in economic impact, with over 161,300 jobs supported directly and indirectly, in the Philippines.
In response to the pandemic, the company expanded its global Frontline Stays initiative to provide housing to Covid-19 responders, partnering with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation.
“Covid-19 has been a global fork in the road for everyone. The single biggest focus for all travel stakeholders is that we kick-start travel again. We are responding by promoting safe travel in domestic corridors and supporting government protocols,” said Bajaj.
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