Demand for luxury travel among Filipinos is on the rise, driving the introduction of new, exclusive offerings such as expedition cruises, off-the-beaten-path destinations, and lavish rail journeys.
Shan Dioquino David, CEO and president of the newly-launched CITTI Elite, highlighted their recent partnerships and product launches, including Four Seasons Yachts, Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Ponant, and Scenic Luxury Cruises.
David noted that high-net-worth individuals are increasingly willing to spend upwards of US$100,000 for the ultimate in exclusivity and luxury. These travellers expect premium experiences, such as hotel suites of at least 70m², Mercedes vehicles for overland tours, Evian water, and meticulous attention to detail. They also prefer smaller ships with a one-to-one guest-to-staff ratio.
Rajah Travel Corp. has also expanded its luxury offerings to include more unique destinations, such as mountaineering across the Canadian Rockies, scenic train journeys through Switzerland on the Glacier Express, specialised tours in the Amazon, and river cruises in India.
Aileen Clemente, chair and president of Rajah Travel, observed: “Well-travelled people who have gone to the typical tourist places now tend to be selective and go to off-beat destinations.”
Clemente shared that some travellers have a particular goal, such as visiting all UNESCO World Heritage and UN heritage sites. “But there’s often a trade-off,” she said, adding that in seeking out these unique destinations, luxury sometimes takes a backseat.
CITTI Elite’s ultra-luxury itineraries are tapping into these evolving preferences, offering destinations like the Galapagos, Latin America, Rovaniemi-Polar Arctic Circle, and South Africa, while opulent train journeys through Europe are also gaining popularity among Filipino travellers.
