The data from Klook, a travel experiences platform, indicate a fourfold increase in activity between 2022 and 2023, spanning both outbound and inbound tourism. This growth is underscored by a threefold surge in bookings over the past year, accompanied by a 21% uptick in the average basket size.
“Our data also show that 76% of Filipinos are already making plans to travel in 2024,” Michelle Ho, General Manager of Klook Philippines and Thailand, said in a media briefing. “While 63% of Filipino users of Klook have made bookings for the year.”
The shift toward experiential travel is evident, with social media platforms, particularly Facebook, serving as influential sources of inspiration for travel plans among users.
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Popular destinations among Filipino travelers include visa-free countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and Thailand with Japan being the lone top international destinations that require a visa for entry.
Domestic travel
“Boracay is still among the top destinations for domestic travel,” said Ulla Roqueza, associate director of Marketing, Klook Philippines. She also pointed out that hotel bookings are also one of the top services availed by travelers on the platform.
The domestic market remains robust, with 92% of survey respondents expressing intentions to travel within the Philippines in 2024. Klook’s data show that destinations like Tagaytay, Baguio, Batangas, and Palawan are popular among local tourists.
Road trips are particularly favored, with Klook data indicating a surge in searches and bookings for groups of 3-6 individuals.
Eras Tour
Klook served as the exclusive ticketing partner for Taylor Swift’s highly anticipated “Eras Tour” concert in Singapore. Within six hours, tickets were sold out, with Filipino fans comprising a notable 10-15% of total sales emerging as top buyers.
Roqueza told Back End News that they underwent meticulous preparations to ensure a seamless ticketing experience, including extensive testing and the implementation of a robust queuing system to accommodate the overwhelming demand.
“We tested it for months and made sure we had a seamless queueing system to give fans of Taylor Swift equal opportunities to score their tickets,” she said.
Looking ahead, Klook aims for further expansion in southern regions, leveraging the significant user base from Metro Manila. Plans to diversify into event-related services are being explored, building upon the success of the “Eras Tour,” but they will be very strategic about depending on the event or artist.