The Department of Tourism, in collaboration with Guide to the Philippines and AIM - Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center for Tourism, launched the Philippine Travel Survey as our way of offering support to the tourism and hospitality industry. We are sharing what we have discovered about Filipino travelers' behavior, sentiments, and expectations on domestic travel's new normal based on 12,732 respondents across 81 provinces in the Philippines.

The COVID-19 pandemic has heavily affected the local tourism industry. Travel restrictions put in place to control the further spread of the virus resulted in a sudden drop in travel demand, severe loss of revenues, and unemployment across all tourism enterprises. 

Despite the travel restrictions, Filipino travelers’ sentiments indicate that domestic leisure travel will lead the recovery of Philippine tourism. The majority of Filipino travelers are willing to travel domestically within six months from lifting of travel restrictions as compared to traveling internationally. Due to expectations of income reduction, the budget for travel is expected by most to be reduced as well, but not zero it out. Their future income expectations, along with concerns on safety, also influenced their negative sentiment towards purchasing travel deals during this time. 

Once travel is allowed, Filipino travelers will prefer to travel close to home and do reduced-contact activities like hotel/resort staycations, solo travels, and going on a private guided tour. Meanwhile, activities that will expose them to crowded places like joining shared tours, going to sports events, and attending conferences are deemed unsafe. Top activities they are likely to do when travel is allowed include going to the beach, going on a road trip, and going on a staycation. Travelers are also willing to follow necessary health and safety policies like submitting a medical certificate, undergo rapid tests, and self-quarantine at home.

These travel behaviors, sentiments, and expectations on domestic travel’s new normal are based on the analysis of the Philippine Travel Survey results, where responses from the Philippine Travel Survey conducted from 15-24 May 2020.

WHAT'S IN THE REPORT: 
- Respondents Profile

- Key Insights

- Implications for Tourism Enterprises

- Pillars of New Normal