Most Filipino travelers perceive traveling as an answer to keep their sanity intact amid the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, a survey conducted by the Department of Tourism (DOT) showed.
In the latest Philippine Travel Survey Report, almost 30 percent of the respondents indicated that their reason for traveling is "for their sanity".
The next best response to the question as to why they travel is the search for "a more relaxed atmosphere in the community," which over 20 percent of respondents chose.
Other factors or reasons for traveling include "getting used to basic health protocols," "saw an advertisement on social media that a destination has opened," "enough time has elapsed from the beginning of the pandemic," and "less fear of the virus."
It was also found out from survey respondents that traveling is a "priority expense" for that must be planned and budgeted carefully.
Respondents belonging to the 31 to 40 and 41 to 50 age groups said they were willing to spend P1,000 to P3,500 for traveling after the pandemic. Meanwhile, respondents aged 60 years and above specified a higher budget of P3,500 to P5,000.
The survey results also showed that traveler preferences have evolved, with most respondents favoring outdoor activities in well-ventilated locations such as going to the beach, hiking, and biking.
The online travel survey was conducted from Nov. 28 to Dec. 30 last year by the DOT together with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM)-Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center, and Guide to the Philippines. A total of 7,243 travelers from all 78 provinces in the country and 108 tourism enterprises joined the survey.