The Philippines remains an attractive destination for international tourists, according to the latest data released by online accommodation platform Airbnb.
Searches by international guests for Airbnb stays in the Philippines jumped over 140 percent in the first quarter of 2022 year-on-year. Airbnb suggested the Philippines’ recovering travel industry and economy to prospective tourists .
Airbnb general manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan Amanpreet Bajaj said the platform is committed to working with local hosts across the country and the Philippine government to help ensure Filipino communities could take advantage of the travel rebound.
“It is heartening to see that Airbnb guests from around the world are looking to revisit the Philippines , as well as explore it for the first time, which bodes well for the sector’s ongoing recovery and for our local community of hosts. The blurring lines between travel and living also led to many travelers continuing to embrace their newfound flexibility,” he said.
“They’re jumping at the opportunity to base themselves in the picturesque destinations in the Philippines, including both popular and lesser-known parts of the country,” he said.
The online travel stay platform noted that travelers were also eager to stay longer and explore more places than ever before, as part of a travel revolution that’s creating more economic opportunities for local businesses.
It said that since the country eased travel restrictions in April, there was an incredible amount of enthusiasm among international travelers looking to travel to the Philippines.
Airbnb said the Philippines is also uniquely positioned to take advantage of the live anywhere remote-work trend and the rise of the digital nomad, as long-term stays on Airbnb emerges as a popular choice for guests.
A recent survey conducted by Airbnb among Filipino guests revealed that more than a third of local guests stayed at an Airbnb listing to travel and work remotely.
Airbnb data also revealed that travelers sere raring to travel to both familiar and lesser-known destinations.
Manila emerged as the most popular destination in the Philippines among inbound and domestic guests, followed by Cebu and Quezon City.
More than 60 cities and towns across the country welcomed their very first Airbnb guests since the start of the pandemic, generating an incredible opportunity for Filipino hosts in countryside destinations that usually missed out on the benefits of tourism.
The innovations that Airbnb unveiled over the past year made it easier for Filipinos to become hosts and share in the benefits of the so called “tourism dispersal.”