21/12/2025
In my opinion, the Philippines should already be a motorcycle tourism destination. The landscapes, the roads through the provinces, the coastal routes, and the mountain passes are more than enough. Yet motorcycle travel here remains mostly unrecognized as a serious tourism product.
That’s not a problem of beauty. It’s a problem of mindset.
Tourism in the Philippines is still heavily focused on beaches, island hopping, and resorts. Motorcycle travel is often seen only as daily transportation for locals, not as a form of exploration that travelers would plan their entire trip around. Because of this, a huge opportunity is being quietly wasted.
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A Country Built for Slow Motorcycle Travel.
With more than 7,600 islands, the Philippines offers incredible diversity within short distances. Motorcycles allow travelers to reach places buses and vans never do—quiet coastal barangays, mountain towns, rice fields, and back roads where everyday life continues untouched by mass tourism.
Motorcycle travel encourages longer stays, slower movement, and deeper interaction with local people. This is exactly the type of tourism that benefits the provinces, not just major destinations.
Other Southeast Asian countries understood this years ago. Vietnam and Thailand now promote motorcycle routes as core tourism experiences. Riders travel there specifically to ride famous loops. The Philippines has equally scenic routes, but almost no effort has been made to organize or promote them.
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What Other Countries Are Doing Right?
In Vietnam and Thailand, motorcycle tourism is no longer informal. These countries offer:
✅ Clearly mapped scenic routes
✅ Established motorbike rental networks
✅ Licensed tour operators offering guided rides
✅ Rider-friendly accommodations and repair shops
✅ Clear rules for foreign riders
Routes like Vietnam’s Hà Giang Loop or Thailand’s Mae Hong Son Loop are now internationally recognized experiences, attracting thousands of riders every year.
The Philippines has equally scenic routes, but they remain unstructured and largely undocumented for international markets.
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The Current Challenges in the Philippines.
Despite its potential, several obstacles prevent motorcycle travel from becoming a formal tourism product:
1. Road Safety and Infrastructure
While major highways are improving, many provincial roads lack signage, lighting, and consistent maintenance. Road safety enforcement is uneven, and traffic rules are often interpreted loosely.
2. Limited Rental Options
Most motorcycle rentals are small-scale and informal. There is little standardization in insurance, maintenance, or pricing, making long-distance travel riskier for visitors.
3. Unclear Regulations for Foreign Riders
License recognition, insurance requirements, and checkpoints can be confusing for foreigners, especially those riding across regions.
4. Weather and Logistics
Heavy rains, typhoons, and ferry-dependent routes add complexity that requires proper planning and reliable information—something currently missing.
5. RORO ticketing
If the Philippines wants motorcycle travel to be taken seriously as a tourism product, some very basic systems need fixing. One of the most frustrating examples is RORO ferry ticketing.
I remember trying to travel by motorcycle from Matnog to Cebu. Instead of going to one counter, buying a ticket, and boarding—as is normal in many countries—I had to go to three different locations just to pay separate fees before I could even get the actual ticket. Each stop meant lining up, asking where to go next, and hoping nothing was missing.
For a traveler, this is not just inconvenient—it’s discouraging. What should be a simple crossing turns into confusion, wasted time, and unnecessary stress. For motorcycle travelers doing long-distance routes across islands, this kind of system breaks the flow of travel completely.
This isn’t an isolated case. Many RORO ports operate with:
- Multiple payment points
- Unclear instructions
- No unified ticketing system
- Little to no guidance for foreign travelers
For motorcycle tourism, island connectivity is not optional—it is essential. If moving between islands feels complicated, riders will simply choose destinations where transport is straightforward.
6. Limited and Expensive Accommodation in the Provinces
Another major challenge is accommodation. In many provincial areas, options are either very limited or surprisingly expensive for what is offered. Affordable, clean, rider-friendly lodging—common in motorcycle destinations like Vietnam or Thailand—is often hard to find.
Motorcycle travelers are not looking for resorts. They are looking for simple, safe places to sleep, park their bike, and continue the journey the next day. When prices are high or options are scarce, riders shorten their stay or skip entire regions altogether.
This directly works against slow travel and long-distance riding, which depend on accessible and reasonably priced accommodation along the route.
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Final Thought
In my view, motorcycle tourism in the Philippines is a missed opportunity. The roads, landscapes, and provincial life are already there. What’s missing is the willingness to take this form of travel seriously.
If the Philippines wants travelers who stay longer, move slower, and connect more deeply with local communities, motorcycle travel should not be ignored. It should be part of the tourism conversation — especially in the provinces.
