Off-the-beaten-path destinations that are close to nature and family-friendly are preferred should Filipinos get back on the road again, according to a recent survey.
The 2021 Philippine Travel Trends Survey of Airbnb, conducted on Feb. 4-8, discovered that majority or 60 percent of the 1,067 respondents are planning to take their first post-pandemic trip with immediate and extended family members, followed by “with close friends” at 46 percent.
Family-centric vacations gained traction as the lockdown re-ignited the connection among family members—with 88 percent of Filipinos saying they felt closer to their family during the pandemic.
“It is not difficult to understand the pent-up demand for travel. After months apart, Filipinos are keen to travel to spend meaningful quality time with their loved ones, including their immediate and extended families and close friends,” noted Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb general manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
The survey intended to explore the travel preferences and behaviors of Filipinos this year while the pandemic is still ongoing, determining where, with whom, and under what circumstances they will embark on an adventure again.
Being able to physically distance themselves from people outside their households has been seen to have driven 53 percent of the respondents to prefer “less crowded, off-the-beaten-path destinations” over places that require taking a short-haul or long-haul flight (15 percent). Airbnb forecasts a rise in road trips post-pandemic.
Despite the preference for off-the-beaten-path locations, the survey found Boracay remains the top domestic travel destination for Filipinos, followed by Palawan, Baguio, Siargao, and Tagaytay. The top five destinations align with the respondents’ choice (47 percent) for getaways that bring them close to nature.
“Travelers are looking at slower, more mindful travel amidst nature,” reiterated Bajaj. International destinations, however, remain at the lower end of Filipinos’ priorities, at 19 percent.
Airbnb also found safety (64 percent) and affordability (61 percent) are the top considerations when choosing lodging.
The travel platform earlier introduced its global Enhanced Cleaning initiative for Airbnb Host, a standardized protocol for cleaning and sanitation endorsed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In a bid to revive local tourism, Airbnb is committed to supporting its local host and guest community and working closely with key policymakers and stakeholders for the accreditation of Airbnb listings in line with the government’s regulations for leisure travel.
According to the platform, the Philippines has more than 39,000 listings as of 2019, supporting over 160,000 jobs and contributing $1 billion to the local economy.
“We believe that travel is resilient and will bounce back with time, and we anticipate that unique and family-friendly travel will serve as the impetus for domestic tourism recovery,” emphasized Bajaj.