The Department of Tourism conducted a survey that showed 77% of Filipinos would be willing to travel locally once the quarantine restrictions were lifted post-pandemic.
DOT released the survey results in their report called “Philippine Travel Survey: Insights on Filipino Travel Behavior Post-COVID 19” in a webinar on Monday, June 29.
The agency surveyed 12,000 respondents in the country, and results showed Filipinos like to go to places near their homes.
The survey also showed Boracay, Siargao, and Baguio as the top tourist destinations once travel is allowed.
Respondents also considered health and safety as their primary concern when it comes to traveling.
Most respondents said they prefer activities with limited face-to-face interaction.
The survey showed the top travel activities respondents want to do, such as beach trips (69%), road trips (54%), and staycations (41%).
It also revealed that fewer people would like to travel internationally because of financial constraints.
DOT said, “domestic leisure travel will lead the recovery of Philippine tourism.”
Also read: Farm tourism first to bloom after pandemic
Meanwhile, 72% of respondents said they prefer online booking travel arrangements.
The majority of those who were surveyed also expect tourism establishments to comply with the new normal and enforce self-service processes, contactless check-in, and digital payments.
The respondents also said they would only feel safe to travel locally or abroad once the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available or if the virus situation in the Philippines gets better.
According to the DOT survey, 88% of respondents are willing to comply with existing health and safety protocols such as rapid COVID-19 tests prior to departure and submitting a medical certificate before traveling.
The survey report “recommends that establishments and organizations emphasize safety and be transparent in addressing customers’ concerns.”
“We believe in a collaborative approach to recovery,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said.
“The survey, which was distributed online, sought the sentiments and concerns that respondents have concerning domestic travel in light of the pandemic, in order to provide insights to tourism enterprises to better prepare, respond, and serve guests and tourists again,” she added.
Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat earlier said, “International travel might not happen this year. At this point in time, traveling (abroad) is but a dream.”