The Philippines has emerged as a top travel destination country in Southeast Asia (SEA) after the national government moved to reopen its borders to tourists ahead of other countries in the region.
Data from UK-based technology firm, Travelport, showed that in the first quarter of 2022, the Philippines and Thailand account for over half or 51 percent of all international flight bookings to Southeast Asia.
The top 10 travel destinations in the region included Manila as well as Angeles and Mabalacat in Pampanga. Manila was ranked first while Angeles and Mabalacat were ranked 10th.
“For the first quarter of 2022, international flight bookings to Southeast Asia overall have increased and have shown an upward trajectory with the Philippines taking the lead by achieving 42 percent of its international bookings in the first quarter of 2019 prior Covid-19 pandemic,” Travelport said.
“The Philippines and Thailand were among the earliest countries in Southeast Asia to reopen their borders, and travelers are already clamoring to visit,” it added.
The Philippines announced on January 28 that it planned to fully reopen to vaccinated travelers on February 10. This, Travelport said, saw a rapid increase in flight bookings to the archipelago.
Within a week of the announcement, Travelport said international flight bookings to the Philippines rose by 114 percent.
Further, Travelport said, months after the announcement on February 28, the country saw a 294-percent increase in daily flight bookings.
Other top destinations in the region were Singapore; Bangkok, Thailand; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Jakarta, Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Hanoi, Vietnam; Phuket, Thailand; and Bali, Indonesia.
“All countries in Southeast Asia, with the exception of Brunei, have started to remove their travel restrictions and are reopening their borders to international tourists in hopes of rejuvenating the industry that was hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic: tourism,” Travelport said.
The latest data, the company said, showed how the easing of restrictions has affected the international demand for travel to Southeast Asia.
Travelport powers bookings for thousands of travel suppliers worldwide. Buyers and sellers of travel are connected by the company’s next generation marketplace, Travelport+, which simplifies how brands connect, upgrades how travel is sold, and enables modern digital retailing.
Headquartered in the United Kingdom and operating in more than 180 countries around the world, Travelport is focused on driving innovation that simplifies the complex travel ecosystem.