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Restaurants

Filipinos' Outbound Travel Creates Double-Edged Challenge for Local Restaurants

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

As more Filipinos travel abroad and experience different cuisines, local restaurant owners face a dual challenge: keeping up with the evolving tastes of customers who have become more knowledgeable about food, while also remaining competitive with the quality of international cuisines. "Right now, it's getting more difficult," said Pomodoro Pizza Co-founder Ram Morales II, as Filipinos can now travel outside the country more easily than before. Morales noted that the increased accessibility of travel abroad has made it cheaper to go to countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, or Japan, rather than traveling locally. This shift has led to a trend where people are more knowledgeable about food, and local restaurants must adapt to remain competitive.

Key Takeaways:

  • Local restaurant owners face a double-edged challenge due to the increasing outbound travel among Filipinos, who are becoming more knowledgeable about food and have higher expectations.
  • The growth in outbound travel has made it cheaper for Filipinos to travel abroad, rather than traveling locally, leading to a shift in consumer behavior and preferences.
  • Local restaurants must remain competitive with the quality of international cuisines and adapt to the changing tastes of their customers.
  • The trend of increased outbound travel among Filipinos continues to rise, with over 1.72 million Filipinos traveling abroad in the first quarter of 2025.
  • The number of departing Filipino travelers increased by 6.83% compared to the same period in 2024, with double-digit increases in travelers to Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, and the United States.
  • Filipinos' destination choices are influenced by the availability of direct flights and the ease of obtaining visas, with Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore being top destinations.

Statistics:

  • 1.72 million Filipinos traveled abroad in the first quarter of 2025, exceeding the 1.65 million foreign tourists who arrived in the country in the same period.
  • 6.83% increase in departing Filipino travelers from January to March 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
  • 97% increase in Filipino travelers to Vietnam, with 71,767 travelers in the first quarter of 2025.
  • 33.84% increase in Filipino travelers to Thailand, with 102,455 travelers in the first quarter of 2025.
  • 23.82% increase in Filipino travelers to Taiwan, with 132,007 travelers in the first quarter of 2025.
  • 16.5% increase in Filipino travelers to the United States, with 75,901 travelers in the first quarter of 2025.

Sources:

  • BusinessMirror: Interview with Pomodoro Pizza Co-founder Ram Morales II
  • Department of Tourism (DOT): Data on outbound travel of Filipinos from January to March 2025
  • BusinessMirror: "Filipinos' outbound travel surges in Q1 2025" (no date mentioned in the original text)

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