Inside the Philippines' most overlooked $36B digital market

The Philippines' digital economy reached $36 billion in 2025 and is forecast to nearly double by 2030. 94% of Filipino consumers are willing to share data with AI agents, and 74% interact with AI tools daily. Despite rapid digital growth, international OTAs like Agoda and Booking.com dominate online bookings, with no homegrown heavyweight. Startups like Barkota, BookTickets.ph are tackling the fragmented ferry network, and Cocotel absorbs revenue risk to help small island properties accept digital payments. VC funding is thin, but the market is wide open.