Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong are top destinations for Pinoys

MANILA, Philippines — Tourist hotspots in Asia and the Pacific are benefitting from revenge travel from the Philippines, as nine out of 10 Filipinos are going on trips around the region, according to a study conducted by Visa.

Visa, in its latest Global Travel Intentions Study, said that 89 percent of Filipinos going overseas are headed to destinations across Asia and the Pacific.

The study named Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong as some of Asia-Pacific countries where most Filipinos are heading to, with travel peaking between December 2022 and March this year.

Further, the report showed that Filipinos value accommodation and flexibility when spending for their trips. Visa said that 75 percent of respondents prioritize cleanliness when booking a hotel, a sign that the pandemic has yet to leave the minds of many Filipinos.

On the other hand, the study found out that 35 percent of Filipinos want to travel independently instead of packaged tours. When asked for the motivation of their travel, Filipinos said their trips are for relaxation (69 percent), for exploration (52 percent) and for adventure (48 percent).

However, Visa also learned that 66 percent of Filipinos face payment concerns in their travels, as some have yet to adopt the use of digital platforms to complete basic transactions.

As such, Visa country manager for the Philippines and Guam Jeff Navarro said efforts should be improved to convince the remaining Filipinos to shift to contactless payment.

“This can be stressful for those who are not yet well-versed in digital payments, and who feel the need to carry cash and find money changers and ATMs,” Navarro said.

“Contactless payments have emerged as the mode of choice in many places around the world. We are supportive of all stakeholders in the ecosystem working together to enable cashless and contactless payments in the Philippines,” he said.

Navarro believes that outbound travel will hit pre-pandemic levels sooner than later, forecasting a fourth quarter surge with the holiday season forthcoming. On the average, Filipinos have taken two trips over the last 12 months, according to Visa.

In an analysis, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said payment providers should improve their respective systems to lessen transaction failures using credit and debit cards.

IATA said that as much as 15 percent of air travel purchases fail for a variety of reasons, and this could be discouraging for certain travelers who are eyeing to book a flight.