Manila: A great majority of Filipinos plan to travel locally this year, indicating a 'promising' performance for the Philippines' domestic tourism, a study by travel booking service firm Klook revealed.
According to Philippines News Agency, the firm's 2025 Travel Pulse showed that 98.5 percent of Filipinos are looking to travel domestically in 2025 while 56.3 percent said they plan to travel abroad. Klook's General Manager for Philippines and Thailand, Michelle Ho, said this signals that Filipinos are becoming 'smarter and more intentional with their money' and that travel remains resilient even amid fears of a global economic slowdown.
Ho noted that Filipinos have a strong drive to travel and have found various ways to make it happen through their choice of destinations, experiences, and the frequency of their trips with friends and family. This was highlighted during a press conference in Makati City on Tuesday. The study surveyed about 500 Filipino respondents across the Philippines, mainly from Metro Manila and Cebu.
Manila, Tagaytay, Boracay, and Siargao are among the popular destinations for Filipinos, according to the study. Ho mentioned that core destinations continue to rise in popularity, while lesser-known destinations are gaining attention online.
International travel trends also showed that more Filipinos visited Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand in 2024, along with usual international hotspots like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Ho emphasized that Filipinos have been more adventurous in 2024 and are expected to continue this trend in 2025, with Millennials and Gen Zs viewing travel as a therapeutic tool.
The study highlighted that planning ahead is crucial for Filipino travelers, with over 35 percent booking flights and accommodations one to three months in advance. Once at their destination, 63 percent of Filipinos engage in adventurous tours, digital detoxes, wellness, and meditation retreats, exploring new experiences. Additionally, 57 percent seek hidden gem adventures, and 54 percent participate in workshops and classes that interest them.
In 2024, Klook recorded a 94-percent spike in sales of its local tourism products and services, along with a 93-percent growth in hotel and activity bookings compared to 2023. The top consideration for 37.3 percent of respondents when booking is perfect weather. Scheduling around work and school vacations was equally important at 29.9 percent, followed by the affordability of travel options at 15.3 percent.
All Filipino respondents agreed that travel effectively manages stress and well-being, considering it a form of therapy. The study also discovered that 78.4 percent use travel as a mental health break, with 31.6 percent choosing nature retreats for a creative reset, which is higher than the market average of 15.8 percent.
