Aussie tourists are increasingly choosing the Philippines as their destination of choice for a holiday, according to the Philippines Department of Tourism Australia and New Zealand.
One significant factor in the upturn is the geographical convenience for travellers seeking a quick escape from the city.
“From the east coast of Australia, the Philippines is only an eight-hour flight to Manila,” said Norjamin Delos Reyes, tourism attache from the Philippines Department of Tourism Australia and New Zealand.
The Australian market remains the fifth largest for the Philippines, with more than 150,077 from our shores making their way over between Jan and Jul this year. But proximity alone has not been the driver for tourism growth, with the many tropical island destinations such as Boracay, Cebu, Palawan and Bohol spurring holiday interest from Aussies — particularly younger travellers.
“We have seen an increase of millennials travelling to the Philippines,” Reyes said.
“Surfing is also becoming a popular activity in the Philippines, as a matter of fact, two Aussie social media influencers were just in Siargao in September to cover the Cloud 9 Surfing Cup.”
Looking forward, the Philippines Department of Tourism Australia and New Zealand will move to consolidate the recent gains made in Australia by ensuring it engages effectively with the country’s local travel market. The tourism agency hosts annual roadshows and seminars for agents in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Darwin and hosts regular group agent familiarisations. This year they are taking 60 participants on a mega famil to Manila, Cebu, Boracay, Coron and Bohol.
