It's Official: Hong Kong Still Remains A Top Travel Spot For Filipinos

Filipino travel abroad has hit new heights in 2025. According to data gathered by the Department of Tourism from the e-Travel application, a remarkable 4.34 million Filipinos traveled internationally in the first seven months of the year, a 10.7 percent jump from the same period in 2024. This outbound surge is a powerful indicator of a robust domestic market, especially when compared to the 3.51 million foreign tourists who visited the Philippines.

Leading the charge is Hong Kong, which continues to hold its position as the undisputed top destination for Filipino travelers. From January to July, 548,603 Filipinos visited the bustling city, marking a 9.23 percent increase year-on-year.

The data reveals a clear preference for nearby countries in Asia, with the region attracting a total of 1.1 million Filipino travelers—a 14.14% increase. These other preferred destinations by Filipinos are also seeing significant growth:

• Japan, with 6.12% more Filipino travelers at 472,077.

• Taiwan saw a staggering 34.56% increase, reaching 323,538.

• Thailand grew by 34.21% to 291,374.

• Vietnam recorded the most dramatic growth, with a near-doubling of visitors at 97.8%, totaling 200,241 travelers.

While some Asian destinations saw a slight dip—like Singapore (down 7.63%) and Saudi Arabia (down 2.46%)—the overall trend points to a widening travel footprint.

Europe is also a notable draw, with 289,680 Filipinos traveling to the continent in the first seven months of the year, a 4.5% increase. The top European destinations include the United Kingdom (up 3.37%), Italy (up 6.34%), and Spain (up 15%).

The rise in international travel is also reflected in government revenue. The collection of travel taxes reached nearly P4 million in the first half of the year, providing a clear fiscal indicator of this booming travel trend.

This article originally appeared on Esquiremag.ph. Minor edits have been made by the Cosmo.ph editors.