LUXURY longhaul travel from the Philippines is fast expanding on the heels of a growing economy, a trend highlighted at Insight Vacations’ launch of authentic and experiential tour programmes for 2015 yesterday.
Bernadette Arnaiz, managing director of Rajah Travel Corp, Insight Vacations’ partner in the Philippines, said: “You’ll be surprised because most of our sales refer to couples and families who want this type of experience. They want to be spoiled. Filipinos like longhaul from seven to 14 days.
“That’s why we’re getting the numbers now. Most of our sales in the Philippines are premium (for Insight), not premium savers (for another company).”
Insight Vacations’ CEO, John Boulding, said Insight has a “high repeat business” in the Philippines, an important market divided into three areas: sophisticated travellers who have studied or have businesses overseas, urban sophisticates living in Manila, and the rural wealthy or entrepreneurs who have money but limited time for travel with their children or extended families.
He said 28 per cent of the company’s business in the Philippines come from either small groups or extended families, 48 per cent from singles and couples, and the rest are VFRs.
Spain is hot for Philippine travellers, while Italy remains very big due to fashion, food, history and architecture.
All of Eastern Europe, from The Balkans to Croatia, is very strong while the Scandinavia and the Alps are one of the fastest-rising destinations in 2015. Switzerland is back big time.
Boulding added that there is an opportunity in the Philippines to start developing India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Of the 113 escorted journeys in 2015, 14 are new itineraries, including Egypt, Dalmatian Islands and Croatia.
