With rising fares, fuel surcharges, Filipinos now rethink travel plans

With transport costs rising, some Filipinos are putting travel plans on hold or trimming vacation expenses as higher fares begin to weigh on household budgets.

In Dano Tingcungco’s report on “24 Oras Weekend,” several travelers said trips to the provinces and overseas destinations are being postponed as airfare and transport costs continue to climb.

“Wala kaming mga planong ganyan as of now,” one commuter said. (We don’t have plans like that as of now.) 

Another said planned trips home to the Visayas may have to wait.

“Taga-Visayas ako, magpaplano din ako to go home ngayon, cancel muna, and sa pinakaimportanteng celebration na lang siguro like Christmas or New Year,” another traveler said.

(I’m from the Visayas. I was planning to go home, but I’ll cancel for now and probably just travel for the most important occasions like Christmas or New Year.) 

Others said travel has become difficult to fit into their budgets.

“Wala naman po akong future travels, wala pa, ’di pa kaya ng budget,” another said. (I don’t have any future travel plans yet. My budget still can’t afford it.)

Some social media users also said travel is no longer a priority, with daily commutes now taking up most of their transport spending.

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) said it is already seeing weaker demand, particularly for flights, as travelers pull back on bookings.

“Wala kaming halos inquiries or planong umalis mga tao between June, July, August,” PTAA president Jaison Yang said.

(We’re seeing almost no inquiries or travel plans from people between June, July, and August.)

Yang said higher fuel surcharges have pushed up airfare costs, making travel less affordable for many passengers.

“Yung sa fuel crisis, from Level 9, Level 18. Dating domestic na binabayad na P300 surcharge, ngayon umabot na sa P1,600. Sa international destination, ang fuel surcharge ngayon aabot ng P16,000 sa fuel surcharge pa lang,” he said. 

(Because of the fuel crisis, it went from Level 9 to Level 18. Domestic fuel surcharge used to be P300, now it has reached P1,600. For international destinations, fuel surcharge alone can now reach P16,000.)

Despite the slowdown, Yang said some destinations remain popular, like China, Australia, and New Zealand.

Still, he said travel costs may remain elevated even if tensions in the Middle East ease.

“Kahit mag-ceasefire at matapos ang situation sa Middle East, it will take a few months para mapababa presyo ng langis,” he said.

(Even if there is a ceasefire and the situation in the Middle East ends, it will take a few months before oil prices go down.)

Some travelers, however, said they still plan to push through with trips by cutting costs elsewhere.

“May reunion kasi kami ng mga dati kong classmate sa Batangas sa next week, tapos mag-arkila na lang daw kami ng sasakyan tapos may ambagan ng P1,000,” one traveler said.

(We have a reunion with my former classmates in Batangas next week, so we’ll just rent a vehicle and chip in P1,000 each.)

Others said they may opt for shorter and cheaper local trips instead.

“Opo, locally na lang siguro instead na medyo malayo-layo,” another said.

(Yes, maybe just local trips instead of going somewhere farther.) — Sherylin Untalan/JMA, GMA News