8 in 10 Pinoys limit Holy Week trips

MANILA, Philippines —  Filipinos are keeping their Holy Week trips closer to home this year, a study from a booking platform revealed.

According to a report from AirAsia MOVE, eight in 10 Filipinos this year booked a local trip for their Lenten vacation, keeping their flights close and mainly for hometown visits.

AirAsia MOVE said over half of the bookings depart from Manila, indicating that most Holy Week travel involves homecoming trips for professionals and students.

The platform observed that two in five bookings from Manila are headed to provincial gateways, particularly Cebu, Iloilo and Tacloban.

Others are traveling elsewhere, likely for leisure stays, with 17 percent flying to island destinations such as Caticlan and Puerto Princesa.

Travelers going abroad are also keeping their destinations nearby.

AirAsia MOVE said nine percent of departures from Manila are bound for nearby cities such as Kuala Lumpur and Taipei.

More than half of travelers are flying solo, while 18 percent are traveling with a companion, 15 percent with children and 11 percent with friends.

Combined with these booking patterns, AirAsia MOVE observed that two in five trips are short, lasting a maximum of four days, in line with the regular Holy Week holidays.

In terms of accommodation spending, Filipinos are looking for value-for-money hotels, limiting their nightly expenditure to P4,000 by staying in four-star (41 percent) and three-star (37 percent) properties.

Likewise, Filipinos kept emergency spending to a minimum this year, with last-minute bookings on AirAsia MOVE at just two percent.

The platform said 29 percent of travelers booked trips 30 days in advance, while 22 percent planned 60 days ahead.

“Holy Week travel is not just about going home, it is also about making the most of limited time. From early bookings to morning flights, solo journeys and value-focused accommodations, data show that Filipinos are intentional planners,” AirAsia MOVE said.

So far, data from booking sites like AirAsia MOVE and Klook show that Filipinos are still completing trips planned before the recent spike in fuel prices.

However, trends are expected to change if the security situation in the Middle East – the trigger of fuel price spikes – remains unresolved for an extended period.

Influx

This surge in domestic travel is reflected in government data.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday 1.7 million passengers across 353 ports nationwide since the launch of Oplan Byaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2026 on March 28. Nearly 400,000 passengers were recorded on March 31 alone.

PCG spokesperson Commodore Noemie Cayabyab said high passenger volumes were observed in major tourist areas, including Cebu, Batangas, Iloilo, Aklan and Oriental Mindoro.

Coast Guard vessels are on standby to ferry stranded passengers for free, particularly in Batangas and Calapan, while coordination remains ongoing with the Maritime Industry Authority and the Philippine Ports Authority.

The PCG has deployed 17,000 personnel, including rescue swimmers and medical teams, as well as K9 units for added security.

At the airports, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) is also on full alert, expecting up to 45,000 departing international passengers daily.

In a statement, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said all personnel have been deployed to manage the anticipated surge.

He reminded passengers to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their scheduled flight, stressing that early arrival is crucial to avoid missing flights amid the expected congestion.

“This is the peak of the Holy Week exodus. We expect some queues at the airports because of the sheer number of travelers, but we commit to full deployment for a manageable airport experience for passengers,” Viado said.

“Arriving early and completing all requirements ahead of time will help ensure a hassle-free journey,” he added.

The BI also warned travelers against fraudulent websites charging fees for the government’s electronic travel declaration system, emphasizing that registration through the official platform is free.

Victims of such scams are urged to report incidents to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), for its part, reminded motorists to remain calm and disciplined on the road.

PNP chief Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. urged drivers to avoid road rage as millions of Filipinos travel for the Holy Week break, stressing that patience and restraint help maintain peace and order.

“Don’t let road rage ruin your plans for the Holy Week. Let us all set a good example on the road, especially that most of the motorists are traveling with their children and family,” he said.

Nartatez also mobilized the police force to intensify the clearing of roads and highways of obstructions to ensure unimpeded travel for commuters and motorists during Holy Week.

The PNP has been placed on full alert, with more than 98,000 personnel deployed to secure transportation hubs, major highways, churches, pilgrimage sites, beaches and other areas of convergence.

Refocus

Amid the travel rush, church leaders called on Filipinos to refocus on the spiritual meaning of the season.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines president and Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera urged families to use their gatherings as moments of reflection and renewal.

“Holy Week is a moment for the family, for the whole community to pray, to reflect and to be renewed as we realize the many faults, sins we have committed against Jesus who loves us,” Garcera said.

“I encourage you, my dear brothers and sisters, as we celebrate this week, the Holy Week, to make sure that we respond to a reflection, a moment of conversion and a moment of rejoicing because the Lord is alive in us,” he added.

He also encouraged families to pray together, go to confession and receive the Lord, reminding the faithful to ensure that “at the end of this week, Christ is alive in our midst.”

Cloudy weekend

Starting today, partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms will be experienced mostly over Mindanao and the eastern section of the Visayas due to the easterlies, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration said yesterday.

Light to moderate easterly to southeasterly winds will prevail over Northern and Central Luzon, with slight to moderate sea conditions.

Similar wind and sea conditions are expected in the rest of the country, with winds coming from the east to northeast.

The public is advised to avoid outdoor physical activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to prevent fatigue, heat cramps and heat exhaustion.

Staying hydrated, resting in shaded areas, wearing light-colored clothing, using sun protection such as hats or umbrellas and avoiding alcohol and caffeine as much as possible are also encouraged. –  Emmanuel Tupas, Evelyn Macairan, Rudy Santos, Josiah Antonio