Amid the reopening of international destinations, domestic travel still remains top of mind for Filipinos with Baguio emerged as the top searched destination followed by Quezon City and Tagaytay City, new data by Airbnb revealed.
The second quarter 2022 Airbnb data was revealed Tuesday, Oct. 18, during Airbnb’s inaugural Future of Travel discussion where industry leaders discussed travel trends and future-proofing growth.
According to Airbnb, Tagaytay leads with the largest surge in guest searches on Airbnb in the second quarter 2022 up from Q2 2019 pre-pandemic, followed by Dumaguete and Calaca.
Other trending destinations for Filipinos include destinations outside tourism hotspots such as Guagua in Pampanga, Unisan in Quezon, and Jala-jala in Rizal.
Longer travel remains a key trend, the data showed. Long term stays of 28 days or more comprises Airbnb’s fastest-growing category by trip length compared to pre-pandemic, spiking 25 percent from a year ago and by almost 90 percent from Q2 2019.
Notably, more than a third of Filipino travelers polled earlier this year said they stayed at an Airbnb to travel and work remotely.
During the discussion, Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb’s General Manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan, shared, “Almost three years on since the pandemic, we are seeing fundamental shifts in travel that are creating new opportunities for the tourism sector. It is incredibly exciting to see that Filipinos are traveling longer and to more diverse locations, which bodes well for the sector’s ongoing recovery. As we work to grow our passionate Host community and inventory of unique stays, we are committed to working with the DOT to promote lesser known destinations and attractions, and spotlight the Philippines as a top-of-mind global destination for travel.”
Former DOT Assistant Secretary and Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Promotions Board Domingo Ramon C. Enerio cited the Tourism Secretary Maria Esperanza Christina Garcia Frasco’s leadership at the Department of Tourism for taking steps to ensure the continued growth and recovery of the tourism industry post-pandemic.
Frasco has outlined a focus on diversifying tourism offerings and maximizing tourism promotion for both well-known and off-the-beaten path tourism sites. The Philippines is already well known as a country of warm hospitality and vibrant destinations and the DOT's desire to showcase our rich culture builds on this strong foundation and is timely given the tourism recovery, said Enerio.
Andrew Staples, Ph.D., Economist Impact’s Regional Policy and Insights Head, highlighted the emergence of a more conscious traveler across Asia Pacific including the Philippines. Staples noted that research showed that since the pandemic, Filipino travelers have been thinking more about their impact on local communities, economies and the environment.
“This awakening of sorts has accelerated the push towards a more responsible form of travel, and the need for tourism stakeholders to jointly drive a future trajectory focused on resilience and sustainable growth,” he said.
With the ongoing travel resurgence underscoring the sector’s role as a key economic driver, the panelists highlighted the importance of identifying shifting travel trends and new growth opportunities. The discussion focused on ways to drive greater economic opportunity with public-private and cross-industry efforts, so as to build an inclusive, resilient and empowered tourism economy in more regions across the Philippines.
Airbnb is a platform for individuals to rent out their primary residences as lodgings for travelers. Renters typically seek accommodations with a homey feel that hotels cannot provide, while most hosts want to rent out their homes to supplement their income.
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer unique stays and experiences that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.