The Philippine arm of online travel platform Klook released the results of its 2026 Travel Pulse report at a media roundtable held in Manila’s Bonifacio Global City on Wednesday, 25th March.
Klook Philippines’ associate marketing director Ulla Roqueza kicked off the event with an overview of the platform’s achievements in 2025 which included the introduction of the Klook Travel Card in collaboration with Philippine digital payment platform GCash.
According to Roqueza: “This project was actually launched in the hope of not only giving our consumers a good experience when it comes to pre-booking, but also with regard to in-destination experiences. Also, it isn’t just about experiences, but also transacting with different stores in a specific country with no service fees for withdrawals.”
Roqueza also highlighted the initiatives Klook launched under its memorandum of agreement with the Philippine Department of Tourism (DOT) over the past year.
Specifically, these were the Tourist Rest Area in the province of Camarines Sur, its first-ever airport lounge at the Clark International Airport in Central Luzon, along with its participation in the DOT’s Philippine Experience Programme (PEP) wherein the platform sought to amplify and support initiatives geared towards driving domestic tourism within the country as well as the digitisation of the sector.
Relevant findings from 2025
In the past year, Klook Philippines noted market growth of 50.7 percent, along with 39.7 percent growth in its domestic business, and 127 percent growth in the hotel sector thanks to the introduction of Klook Hotels.
The annual report likewise noted that 71 percent of Filipino travellers took domestic trips in 2025, with Boracay, Cavite, Cebu, Manila, and Pampanga as their destinations of choice.
With regard to overseas destinations, Klook noted a 67.1 percent increase in interest for Thailand, 124.4 percent for Taiwan, and 193 percent for Vietnam among Filipinos.
As Klook Philippine general manager Michelle Ho opines: “I think that, ever since social media became one of the bigger discovery channels for a lot of our customers, it played a huge part in really driving consideration. Interest in Vietnam shot up, and really: that phenomenon of Vietnam becoming one of the trending destinations for Filipinos really only started about a year, a year and a half ago. Sapa was being talked about last year, along with Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. So I think social media is amplifying that desire for meaningful experiences, the kind of activities that people can do in different destinations, and, of course, ease of planning.”
Klook’s Travel Pulse also noted that Filipino travellers keep four things in mind whenever they plan their trips:
- Staying within their means when it comes to flight fares and the cost of accommodations, though they are willing to break the bank when it comes to dining and experiences on their travels;
- Seeking meaningful experiences wherever they choose to go;
- Build shared memories with a diverse range of travel companions who may include family members, friends, and even colleagues; and
- Maximum ease when it comes to aspects like booking accommodations, arranging for visas, and even seeking transport options locally.
Four trends to keep an eye on this year
The Klook team concluded their annual report by highlighting four specific trends that could shift traveller behaviour throughout this year.
These are:
- Filipinos will consider affordability and getting the most out of their experiences whenever they plan their trips;
- Given current geopolitical and economic issues, most overseas trips planned for 2026 could centre on nearer locations such as the Philippines’ Southeast Asian neighbours, locations in Northeast and East Asia, and potentially to Oceania where there are now sizeable Filipino communities;
- We could see more shared experience-driven trips planned by family or friend groups throughout this year; and
- The synthesis of social media and generative AI could change the way travellers plan their trips, enabling them to combine viral locations they desire to visit along with a more personal itinerary that lets them make the most of their time away doing exactly what they want.
