A recent study conducted by Visa, a digital payments processor, shows that 24% of surveyed Filipinos ventured overseas for leisure or business purposes within the past year with Japan emerging as the clear favorite with 32% having visited the country in the past year.
This trend mirrors a broader resurgence of travel across the Asia Pacific region, with 37% of respondents from various countries reporting overseas trips during the same period.
Following Japan are Singapore (22%), Hong Kong (21%), and Thailand (18%) in terms of popularity. For business trips, Singapore takes the lead with 25%, closely followed by Japan (23%), and the United States and Hong Kong, tied at 18%.
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The study, titled Green Shoots Radar, surveyed Filipino respondents about their travel habits and choices.
Digital payments
When it comes to booking flights, 44% of Filipino travelers prefer booking directly from the provider’s website. For those who booked accommodations through Online Travel Agencies and paid the full amount upon booking, credit cards proved to be the most popular payment mode (41%), followed by mobile/e-wallets (28%).
“As cross-border travel gains momentum in the Philippines and the region, we have the opportunity to ensure our presence throughout travelers’ journeys,” Jeff Navarro, country manager for Visa Philippines, said in a media release. “This entails being actively engaged during destination searches and bookings, facilitating smoother transactions through the use of Visa cards on travel apps.”
The study also explored the payment preferences of Filipino travelers, revealing that a majority (89%) utilized credit (44%) and debit (39%) cards during their trips. The benefits cited for using cards include their wide acceptance (56%), availability at ATMs (49%), and the ability to be used both online and within apps (43%).
According to Visa, the prospects for travel remain promising, with 65% of Filipino respondents planning overseas leisure travel in the next 12 months. Japan continues to be the top choice for leisure destinations in the upcoming year (38%), followed by South Korea (29%) and Singapore (16%). For business travel, Japan (19%), Canada (13%), and South Korea (12%) are the most likely destinations.