Over the past year, there has been a shift in preference for road trip-friendly destinations near the National Capital Region (NCR), according to booking data from digital travel platform Agoda.
Agoda.com looked into how Filipino travel preferences have changed over the past two years. Based on booking data, the preferred domestic destinations shifted towards destinations that can be reached via land travel from major cities and have become a popular choice for Filipinos itching to travel even in the face of flight restrictions.
Big city dwellers looking for a date with nature
While Manila and Cebu remain to be the top booked locations since 2019, roadtrip staples such as Tagaytay, surprisingly came 3rd from its previous 9th ranking. With the city being one of the closest escapes from the Greater Manila Area, Tagaytay is known as an ideal spot to unwind for many metro-dwellers, where they can get the best of cozy weather, good food, and relaxing landscapes rolled into one.
New destinations piquing Pinoy travelers’ interests
Agoda’s data also revealed that many popular beach destinations have taken a back seat this year in terms of preference. This includes ever-famous locations such as Boracay, which was pushed to the 6th spot, from its previous 3rd ranking and Palawan at 14th from its previous 4th position. Surfing spots like La Union and Siargao are also out of the top 20, while lesser known destinations such as Bataan, Dagupan, and Tarlac have become more popular as people took short road trips to quench their travel desires.
Meanwhile, Biñan, Bulacan, Antipolo, Cavite and Pampanga were destinations with the largest jump in rankings.
Being a 2–3-hour drive from NCR, these destinations can easily provide a break from home life through their wide offering of attractions. Whether it’s the breath-taking Hinulugang Taktak falls in Antipolo, or Tibagan Falls in Binan, the top hiking spot Mt. Pico de Loro in Cavite, the pristine Puning Hot Springs in Pampanga, or the historical Biak na Bato National Park in Bulacan, getting out to nature was the name of the game in the past year.
Interestingly, some destinations in certain regions have also taken a spot in the top 10 list for 2021. This includes Subic in the Luzon Islands and Cagayan De Oro in the Mindanao region. Bohol meanwhile, the home of the famous Chocolate Hills, fell out of the top 10 but remains to be part of the top 15 list for this year.
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