Filipinos eager to tour Asean in 2024 — survey

MANILA  -A study by super app operator Grab has revealed that a majority of surveyed Filipinos — who are considered meticulous travel planners — intend to go on international trips with family in the next year to visit popular Southeast Asian (SEA) tourist spots.

In its SEA Travel Insights 2023 report, Grab advertising arm GrabAds found out that seven in 10 Filipinos would like to travel abroad in the next year.

Some 82 percent even said they would want to have more than two trips, signaling the recovery of travel demand after years of strict COVID-19 lockdown. About 66 percent of the respondents will travel with families and relatives.

“This is no surprise given the close-knit nature of Filipino families – a hallmark of the country’s culture,” Grab said.

The report, meanwhile, revealed that 47 percent of the respondents were planning international trips with their spouse while 38 percent would like to have a getaway with friends.

Grab said this suggests that “Filipinos are also looking to create special memories with other loved ones during their travels.” The study — which surveyed 2,000 respondents — found out that seven out of 10 Filipinos vacation in neighboring countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Outside the region, Filipinos love visiting Japan, South Korea and the United States. But before they hop on an airplane, the report noted that Filipinos are planning well their trips, which includes crafting itineraries, selecting hotels, visa applications and securing other travel essentials.

“Not one to miss a beat, Filipino travelers take travel planning seriously,” Grab said