‘7 in 10 Pinoys plan overseas travel soon’

MANILA, Philippines — At least 70 percent of Filipinos plan to book a trip abroad at least once in the next 12 months, showing that travel appetite is returning to pre-pandemic level, a Grab survey noted.

In the survey, the ride-hailing giant found out that seven out of 10 Filipinos are eyeing to book at least one trip abroad in the next 12 months.

The report conducted by GrabAds, the advertising arm of the rideshare app, also showed that 88 percent of these travelers believe they will make two or more trips in the short term.

GrabAds said one of the most notable behaviors among Filipino travelers is their intent to go on group trips, either with family or friends. Based on the study, two in every three look to travel with their relatives.

In spite of this, GrabAds said the majority of respondents prefer to plan their overseas trips three months in advance. This makes sure they get enough time to apply for a visa, design an itinerary, select a hotel, among others.

GrabAds also said over half of Filipinos set a travel budget they try as much to stick to.

“Additionally, the study found that a significant 54 percent of Filipino respondents not only set a travel budget, but are also determined to stick to it, [and] this highlights the meticulous planning and financial prudence of Filipino travelers,” GrabAds said.

Among all destinations, the survey named Thailand as the most likely to gain from the recovery of travel demand from Filipinos.

“At the forefront of the preferences within the Southeast Asian region stands the Land of Smiles, Thailand. Singapore follows closely behind in the second spot, and Malaysia and Vietnam share the third spot, showcasing their growing appeal among Filipino travelers,” GrabAds said.

GrabAds head of marketing Jennie Johnson said Grab users in Southeast Asia recorded an 84 percent surge in their international travel from a year ago. With this, she told brands to start crafting long-term strategies on how to capture the travel footprint in the pandemic aftermath.

For the survey, GrabAds gathered the insights of 10,233 respondents across Southeast Asia, with nearly 2,000 of them coming from the Philippines.

Grab offers transport services across Southeast Asia, including in the Philippines, with presence in more than 400 cities and municipalities around the region.