As Filipinos look ahead to the upcoming holiday season and take that well-deserved break, international travel remains high on their agenda. Trip.com booking data from the first half of 2026 reveals a shift in how they are planning their getaways. While familiar regional favorites continue to be a staple in holiday itineraries, more Filipino travelers are venturing beyond the usual hotspots in search of new destinations and memorable experiences.
From bustling Asian cities to rising international escapes, Filipino travelers are balancing familiarity with discovery. At the same time, experiences also continue to shape travel decisions, with world-renowned attractions and theme parks influencing where travelers choose to go. Seasonal destination initiatives, such as the Hong Kong Summer Fun 2026 campaign, which features limited-time offers on hotels, attractions, and travel experiences through August, also reflect how destinations encourage visitors to make the most of their trips beyond sightseeing.
Together, these trends paint a picture of Filipino travelers who are becoming more confident, experience-driven, and increasingly open to discovering new corners of the world during one of the year’s busiest travel periods.
Familiar Favorites Continue to Take the Lead
Trip.com flight booking data shows that cosmopolitan hubs continue to dominate outbound travel, with Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Bangkok, and Taipei leading international bookings among Filipino travelers.
In connection with data from the country’s Department of Tourism, Filipinos’ continued preference for short-haul international trips is highly driven by affordability, accessibility, and convenience. Increased bookings within nearby Asian destinations suggest that convenience, shorter flight times, and value continue to influence Filipino travelers’ holiday planning.
A New Wave of International Exploration
While familiar destinations continue to anchor outbound travel, Trip.com booking data points to a growing appetite among Filipino travelers to venture beyond the usual holiday hotspots. In the first half of 2026, emerging destinations recorded significant year-on-year booking growth, led by Palau (+663%), Oman (+482%), Saudi Arabia (+145%), Vietnam (+122%), Australia (+80%), and Canada (+67%). These signal that Filipino travelers are becoming more confident in exploring destinations that were once considered niche, supported by expanding flight connectivity, greater destination awareness, and a desire for new travel experiences.
This growing sense of exploration is also evident within destinations that Filipinos already know and love. While Vietnam remains a popular choice, Trip.com booking data shows travelers are looking beyond its traditional gateways, with Da Nang recording a 483% year-on-year increase in bookings and Hanoi growing by 145%. This growth exhibits how travelers are not simply revisiting the same destinations – they’re expanding beyond gateway cities. Filipino travelers are eager to explore destinations beyond its popularized tourist spots and gain more diverse travel experiences
Experiences Continue to Shape Travel Decisions
Destination choice, however, is only part of the itinerary. Trip.com booking trends also reveal that the activities and attractions travelers plan to visit influence their chosen destinations. In the Philippines, some of the most booked attractions revolve around globally recognized entertainment destinations. Hong Kong Disneyland remains the top international attraction booked for the first half of 2026, followed by Ocean Park Hong Kong, Universal Studios Singapore, and Universal Studios Japan.
The popularity of these attractions among travelers exhibits how leisure experiences remain central to outbound travel plans. Travelers, whether families, couples, or friend groups, continue to prioritize experiential travel over purely sightseeing itineraries.
Looking Ahead to the Holiday Rush
As holiday travel demand builds, these booking trends reflect a new generation of Filipino travelers, those who are more confident, experience-driven, and open to exploring beyond the familiar. While regional favorites continue to anchor holiday plans, growing interest in emerging destinations signals an evolving travel mindset. As travelers prepare for one of the busiest seasons of the year, early planning, informed travel choices, and placing value on experiences will be key to unlocking more rewarding holiday adventures.
