Seven out of 10 Filipinos are still keen on pushing through with their planned air travel in the next nine months amid the new surge in COVID-19 cases, according to a survey commissioned by AirAsia Philippines.

The survey was conducted in December 2021.

“We are seeing that Filipinos are now much more confident to travel as we as a nation gain a better understanding of the pandemic and develop a more fitting culture of safety and vigilance. At AirAsia, we are observing an uptrend in long-term bookings which signifies a more positive outlook on travel plans this year,” RIcky Isla, chief executive of AirAsia Philippines said.

” But we are not letting our guards down. We will be consistent in prioritizing the safety and well-being of our guests as they fly to their intended destinations,” he added.

The survey  shows that  60 percent of respondents of the AirAsia survey intend to travel domestically, with Palawan (77 percent), Boracay (69 percent), Cebu (58 percent), Siargao (57 percent) and Bohol (52 percent) topping the list of preferred destinations.

Davao also ranked high among Visayan travelers, with a 52 percent response.

Should international border restrictions relax, five out of 10 Filipinos are also ready to travel abroad, picking Seoul, South Korea (78 percent); Singapore (73 percent); and Osaka, Osaka, Japan (71 percent).

The survey results indicate that Filipinos will be traveling in smaller groups in 2022, preferring to travel with families (69 percent), partners (40 percent), and close friends (24 percent) over work colleagues, solo trips, and group tours.

Thirteen percent of respondents are willing to spend P 30,001 to P 40,000 in total for their travel, as 15 and 38 percent of them limit their budget to P15,000 to P 20,000, and sub-P14,999, respectively. DMS