What tops Pinoy travel goals these days? Most likely, Japan

FORTRESS Built in the 1580s, Osaka Castle in Kansai region is an important Japanese historical landmark. —INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Japan has its allure that tourists cannot seem to resist. After all, it is a travel destination filled with bucket list items: gazing at the blooming sakura, walking across the busy Shibuya crossing and marveling at the majestic Mt. Fuji, to name a few.

So it is no wonder this popular Asian tourist spot always welcomes millions of visitors yearly, including Filipinos.

In fact, Japan is the top choice among Filipinos for leisure travel this year as it was in 2023, according to Green Shoots Radar study by global payment services provider Visa. This January, tourism data showed that about 56,800 Filipinos have gone to Japan, or nearly double the number last year.

The Land of the Rising Sun also pulled in more tourists with the mounting of global pop icon Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” concert. A report by research platform Economic Impact.NET estimates that this sold-out event generated $228 million for the country.

READ: Taylor-mania hits Tokyo as Swift resumes tour before Super Bowl

To further boost tourism between the countries, the Philippines’ Department of Tourism and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism inked a landmark agreement in November last year. Their goal is to increase tourist arrivals for both countries by encouraging tourists to visit attractions, including those in the rural areas. This move is also seen as an opportunity for tourists to be exposed to local customs and culture.

Planning ahead

But Japan is just tip of the iceberg. The Visa study reveals that Filipinos are also keen on traveling to other popular destinations in Asia.

Majority or 65 percent of surveyed Filipinos say they are planning to go overseas for leisure in the next 12 months.

READ: PH named as top Asean country for tourist arrivals in Japan in July

Apart from Japan, Filipinos also want to go to South Korea and Singapore for vacation. For business travel, they will likely go to Japan, Canada and South Korea this year.

This finding is in line with the study of online travel platform Klook, which reveals that 76 percent of surveyed Filipinos intend to travel abroad this year. Their preferred destinations include Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.

The Klook study also finds that travelers prioritize sightseeing, shopping and outdoor adventures when visiting these places.

The online travel platform shares that Filipinos’ top choice of activities include going to Hong Kong Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, Universal Studios Japan and Universal Studios Singapore.

READ: Filipinos raring to travel around PH, abroad, says Klook

The travelers book their trips usually to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and other family events while others are encouraged by airline promotions like seat sales.

Majority or 73 percent of the respondents also go on trips to take advantage of the long weekends during public holidays. This is supported by the findings of the study that 63 percent of the respondents who plan to travel already booked tickets, accommodations and activities ahead of the anticipated long breaks.

Travel budget

According to the Klook study, Filipino travelers usually allot P15,000 to P50,000 for their foreign trips.

The Visa study shares that the respondents who booked their accommodations via online travel agencies mostly used credit cards and mobile or e-wallet options for payment.

When traveling, about 89 percent swipe their credit and debit cards. This is because card payments are widely accepted by many merchants across the world and can also be used for online payments, Visa explains.

“As cross-border travel gains momentum in the Philippines and the region, we have a significant opportunity to maintain visibility throughout travelers’ journeys,” Visa Philippines country manager Jeff Navarro says.

“This involves being present during destination searches and bookings, using Visa cards on travel apps for smoother transactions, and engaging consumers with authentic travel and shopping content to create a secure and seamless digital payments experience for everyone, everywhere,” he adds.