You’re Not Alone: Survey Says Millennials and Gen Zs Use Travel to ‘Mentally Reset’

Young people consider travel a form of therapy and often use it to “mentally reset,” a survey conducted by online travel platform Klook revealed. 

A total of 5,000 people participated in Klook’s Travel Pulse survey 2025 across the region, 500 of whom come from the Philippines. About 78.4 percent of the respondents, most of whom are millennials and Gen Z, said they actively used travel to mentally reset. 

“Overall, we’ve seen Filipinos take more chances on traveling in 2024 and (they) definitely aren’t slowing down in 2025,” Michelle Ho, general manager of Klook Philippines said in a news briefing. “It’s even reached the extent that millennials and Gen Zs perceive it to be a therapeutic tool. From being considered a love language last year, to being a form of therapy today, it goes to show that travel continues to evolve in different ways to serve each individual's unique definition of joy.” 

Klook said a majority of its users are aged 25 to 40.

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The survey also revealed that as soon as the vacation is over, 96.2 of respondents experienced “travel blues,” or the feeling of sadness and depression often attributed to the contracts between the excitement and novelty of traveling versus the mundanity of regular life. About half or 49.1 percent of those surveyed said they immediately start planning their next trip, suggesting that they are “dependent on the therapeutic benefits of travel.” 

According to the survey, a whopping 98.5 percent of Filipino respondents said they have plans to travel domestically as well as nearby locations this year, while over half or about 56.3 percent shared that they plan to travel internationally. Besides the usual international hotspots like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, Klook noted that destinations that grew in popularity among Filipino travelers were Vietnam (239 percent), Taiwan (120 percent), and Thailand (28 percent) in 2024.

“Filipinos are always wanting to learn about cultures and history, and these destinations (Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan) are rich in those,” explained Ho. It helps also that these destinations are visa-free and offer value for money, hich is a major consideration for when planning their outbound travel.

Meanwhile, within the Philippines, Filipinos chose Metro Manila as a preferred destination for “weekend getaways,” as well as popular destinations like Tagaytay, Boracay, Cebu, and Bohol. 

“Surigao is gaining traction as well, not to mention Siargao,” Ho added. “What’s interesting is that you’ve got your core destinations, rising in terms of popularity, and at the same time, lesser-known destinations are being talked about.” 

Interestingly, the Klook survey found that social media influences a significant majority (89 percent) of Filipinos to travel. This is higher than the regional average of 79 percent. Sapa, a mountainous region in Vietnam, has also become more popular among Filipinos compared to other nationalities.

“We’ve seen a lot of itinerary guides on Sapa pop up on Tiktok, on Instagram…so I think its uniqueness and newness is sparking a lot of curiosity among Filipinos,” she said. 

In terms of specific social media platforms, Facebook still dominates, with 84 percent of survey respondents saying they use it to get travel inspiration, (versus 58 percent regional average), followed by YouTube (73 percent), TikTok (69 percent), and Instagram (63 percent). The study shows that compared to the regional average (33 percent), Filipinos are “two times more likely” to engage with TikTok for travel inspiration. 

“Based on our study, social media has definitely made an impact on the way Filipinos plan their travels, and the motivations that create their itineraries,” Ho said. “It’s become a means of digitalization that drives a more intense desire to travel and explore what’s out there.”  

Filipinos also plan about one to three months when booking flights (39 percent) and accommodations (36 percent), with 65 percent of respondents booking travel bundles offered by Klook, and 27 percent booking their tours at the destination. 

“Once at their destination, 63 percent of Filipinos shared that they try out adventurous tours, digital detox, wellness, and meditation retreats (58 percent), and aligned with the spirit of trying out new things, 57 percent take on hidden gem adventures, and 54 percent try out workshops and classes that pique their interest,” said Ho.

In addition, Filipinos booking hotels in the country surged by 202 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year, with travelers favoring properties with pools and buffet breakfasts.

“Filipinos booked one-two night stays at hotels and resorts that offer breakfast and have a pool. You know us Filipinos, we love our free buffet breakfast,” said Ho. “And because we travel as a family, [those with children], prefer hotels with pools.”

About 45 percent of the survey respondents said they booked these hotels less than a month to three months ahead of their travel, with activities generally being booked less than a month in advance. Ho said this is often because more travelers are booking hotels because of plans to attend concerts, shows and running events like marathons.