While traveling with companions, especially loved ones, comes with a host of benefits in addition to creating memories together, embarking on an adventure alone can also be a rewarding experience.
In fact, more travelers from the Philippines are now traveling solo, according to the survey of agoda, an online travel booking platform, conducted from Jan. 2016 to Dec. 2017.
agoda’s booking data shows there was a 45 percent increase in one-person bookings since 2016.
The growth of solo travel in the Philippines can be equally attributed to domestic (45 percent) and international bookings (44 percent), which grew at a similar rate in 2017.
Interestingly, Pampanga’s 1st class city, Angeles, is the most popular domestic destination for solo travel, with a 55 percent increase in 2017. Angeles City is home to Clark International Airport, Holy Rosary Church, and the much-anticipated Philippine Hot-Air Balloon Fiesta.
Meanwhile, Japan was the top international destination for Filipino solo travelers. Solo bookings to Japan accounted for 21 percent of all international solo bookings, and grew by 46 percent year-on-year in 2017.
Explaining the result, agoda’s global director for Brand and Communications Andrew Edwards said, “With food and accommodation options for every budget, hospitable locals, and diverse experiences on offer, Japan is the perfect solo travel destination.”
“In recent years, we’ve seen the rising popularity of capsule hotels, catering for solo travelers who want a budget-friendly way to explore the rich tradition and unique eccentricities of Japan,” added Edwards.
Philippines’s neighboring countries were identified as the fastest growing international destinations for solo travelers. Taiwan took the top spot with 177 percent increase, followed by South Korea, up by 90 percent, and Indonesia, by 65 percent.
On the domestic front, other top growth destinations included the island paradise of Palawan (46 percent) and the historical province of Batangas (41 percent).
The increasing number of solo travelers reflects the undeniable shift occurring in the travel industry. Google Trends reports solid growth in interest in solo travel over the past 10 years, with July 2017 seeing the most searches for “solo travel” ever on Google.
“As the far-flung corners of the world are becoming easier to reach, travelers are more willing to experience destinations with the freedom that comes from traveling alone, allowing them to fully immerse themselves amongst a new culture,” averred Edwards.