If you’re wondering where to go next, Klook’s 2026 Travel Pulse study points you to the top spots in the Philippines and across Asia.
Traveling today doesn’t feel quite as carefree as it did in 2025. Booking flights and hotels used to feel spontaneous and exciting—but now, with the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, it’s something travelers approach with far more caution.
Since the widening war between Iran and the joint forces of the U.S. and Israel began on February 28, 2026, flights are being delayed and cancelled, vessels are rerouting operations, ticket prices are surging, and gas prices? They are skyrocketing.
While it may all sound alarming, the local travel scene thinks that it’s not all bad news. According to travel and experiences platform Klook, Filipinos are still eager to travel—at least for the first half of the year.
“We have not seen weakening at this point, and the reason is that Filipinos plan ahead. For example, a trip to Japan or Korea that is happening in March was booked as early as December of last year. And those with planned trips nearby and around the Philippines, we see them go ahead with their usual plans,” said Klook Philippines general manager Michelle Ho.
But just as it has been driving up gas prices, the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is expected to put pressure on the travel industry in the latter part of 2026. Ho explained, “In terms of booking window, we’re seeing that it could potentially change post-summer all the way to Q4 this year. If back then, people were comfortable booking six months out, eight months out, now I think people are more in a wait-and-see approach.”
Ho shared the travel industry’s expected trends for 2026 as part of Klook’s annual Travel Pulse study, which was conducted among 11,000 Gen Z and Millennial consumers—500 of whom were Filipinos—across the globe. “These findings represent how travel is ever evolving, and help us tailor fit our offerings to meet the specific needs of Filipinos,” Ho noted.
And even though the research was carried out in December 2025, it provides a glimpse of how travelers are likely to plan their trips amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. “For this year, we are excited to support Filipino travelers as they embark on new adventures close to home, such as in Taiwan and Vietnam,” Ho said during the discussion attended by The POST at Tartufo Ristorante in Bonifacio Global City last March 25.
In short, travel is not out of the question—it is simply evolving. Tourists are now making safety and flexibility a priority, choosing destinations closer to home that would give them the most value for their money without compromising security and peace of mind.
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See the world, but fly close to home
In the study conducted by Klook in partnership with audience research platform GWI, the travel company found a slight uptick in interest for trips to Europe. But that shifted, as “people feel that it’s a lot more unpredictable,” Ho said.
Klook saw that in 2025, 71% of Filipinos traveled domestically. It also reported a 127% growth of hotel bookings within the Philippines from 2025 vs. 2024. These numbers suggest that Filipino travelers would rather spend their money on destinations that only entail a domestic flight within the country rather than burn cash on destinations that would put their plans at risk.
“So if there’s one things we are predicting to happen with the ongoing crisis, it is that people are choosing to travel closer to home,” Ho continued. “Intent for travel has not wavered, but where they would travel and how they are spending their money—that’s evolving. That’s what we’re seeing today.”
Travelers looking to stay nearby can explore the destinations that are likely to be on the radar of Filipino travelers this 2026. Topping the list in the Philippines are Manila, Boracay, Cavite, Cebu, and Pampanga.
Meanwhile, those setting their sights on medium-haul destinations can plan trips to Northeast Asia (67%) or Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, as well as Southeast Asia (30%), which includes Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. South Asia & Oceania (3%), particularly India and Australia, are also at the top of mind for Filipinos.
Create meaningful yet budget-friendly experiences
When it comes to planning trips, Filipinos focused both on “staying within their budget” and “building memories with their companions” in 2025. These were coupled with the desire to “seek meaninful experiences” and for “ease of planning.”
This trend is expected to continue in 2026, with top destinations like Vietnam (+193%), Taiwan (+124.4%), and Thailand (67.1%) addressing these traveler needs. “While Hong Kong and Singapore continue to be top destinations for Filipinos, we’re seeing that the ones rising in Asia are those destinations where you get the most value for your budget,” Ho noted. And if this sounds like your kind of trip, these destinations should also be on your radar.
When it comes to making special memories with your loved ones, consider these destinations trending among tourists this year:
Theme parks
- Disney Cruise in Singapore
- Shanghai Disneyland in China
- SunWorld in Vietnam
- J Castles and Star City in the Philippines
Tours
- Asahiyama Zoo and Amanohashidate & Ine Boathouse in Japan
- Nami Island in South Korea
- Alishan Day Tour in Taiwan
Show
- House of Dancing Water in Macau
Other tips for traveling smart in uncertain times
On top of travel-related concerns, fuel price hikes are hitting the country hard. Although Klook noted that this may influence its pricing, the platform remains committed to making travel easy for Filipinos.
“We’re going to see a downstream of price hikes in the operations that we have in the provinces like our island boat tours and ferry operations in Cebu and Bohol. We could see price increases for these types of offerings,” Ho said.
“At the same time, we are also offering our portfolio of transport options,” she added. “If back then, the mode of transport was private transportation for these services, maybe shared transport could be another practical way from getting from point A to point B.” Ho pointed out their Baguio tour packages, which Klook runs together with Victory Liner for local bus transport.
Other than booking shared experiences like Klook’s tour packages, Ho has a few more tips on booking smarter in uncertain times. One, she said, is to book activities with the most flexible cancellations. “The good thing is that when you book hotels on Klook, we offer free cancellation,” she remarked. Another is to avail of bank offers to make the most of your budget. “We have ongoing offers with BPI, Metrobank, BDO, and Unionbank that allows people to get rebates or additional discounts for their top and favorite destinations,” Ho concluded.
With everything considered, traveling during an ongoing crisis can be daunting, but with the right knowledge, careful planning, and booking platforms like Klook, it can still be easy, safe, and enjoyable.
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