Canadian travel agency crowns Manila as top destination for second year in a row
Manila claims the top spot as the most popular destination for the second consecutive year, according to a Canadian travel agency.
FlighHub has just released “Unveiled,” its annual hot list of top destination picks, and Manila remains a firm favourite. The report includes a category for “The Best of the Best,” which features popular destinations among travellers. The report is based on North American booking data from the fourth quarter of 2024 and the first half of 2025.
“From rising stars to popular hotspots and shifting trends, discover where people are headed and what’s changing in travel preferences,” reads the report.
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Although there have been plenty of changes in trending international destinations, Manila is once again a “hotspot destination.” According to FlightHub, several reasons contribute to Manila consistently ranking the highest in overall bookings, including growing interest in the Southeast Asian country and families returning to visit relatives.
“Driven by both new travellers and returning family visits, it remains one of the most consistently in-demand cities in our network,” the report states,
According to FlightHub, Gen X travellers account for 35 per cent of bookings to Manila. The travel agency adds that January was the busiest month for travel to the Philippines.
Planning a trip to Manila? Currently, the average ticket costs $1,685.
Top trending destinations
In 2024, Taipei, Taiwan, was FlightHub’s “breakout destination.” However, it has since been surpassed by Tokyo, which experienced a surge in interest.
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“Tokyo rose quickly this year, earning the strongest year-over-year growth across all destinations,” states the report. “A 56 per cent increase in bookings signals a sharp return in global interest, with travellers drawn to a city where scale meets detail and every moment feels dialled in.”
There have been some significant changes when it comes to group trips as well.
This year, Cancun, Mexico, beat out Biarritz, France, as a top choice for female groups due to its accessibility, while men are favouring Medellin, Colombia, for group trips due to its “growing reputation for food, nightlife, and scenery.”
Prefer to travel alone? This year, Lagos, Nigeria, beat Istanbul, Turkey, as the most popular destination for solo travellers.
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Travel preferences also varied by age groups.
While in 2024, Boomers preferred London, England, this year, an increasing number of North American travellers aged 57 and above are heading to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Last year, Gen Z travellers were heading to Tokyo, Japan, in droves, but this year, New Delhi “emerged as a standout destination” as travellers headed to India’s capital to explore or visit family.