More tourists expected this holiday season until summer due to 'revenge travel'

The Philippine tourism industry is feeling the effects of "revenge travel" as more and more tourists go on trips for their holidays.

According to Dano Tingcungco's report on "24 Oras Weekend," Sunday, the number of tourists is expected to increase this Christmas season until summer next year.

"'Yung mga tao ngayon are already there sa pag book ng ticket, sa pag book ng hotel," said JR Formilleza of Philippine Travel Agencies Association.

"Mamamanifest ito dito sa mga nangyayaring mga travel expo in the Philippines na 'yung foot traffic talaga madami," he added.

("People nowadays are already there booking tickets, booking hotels. This manifests in the travel expos in the Philippines, with the foot traffic visibly growing.")

Formilleza said some hotels have already shifted from quarantine hotels into full-time tourist hotels.

Tourist destinations are also loosening their requirements, such as Cebu foregoing the swab test requirement for travelers regardless of vaccination status.

"COVID-19 is still here but then if we take precautionary measures if we get vaccinated, I think we can now start traveling again," Formilleza said.

—MGP, GMA Integrated News