Nissan Philippines President and Managing Director Atsushi Najima joined Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat in a virtual press conference and contract signing last November 5 to kick off the Safe Trips campaign.

Under the campaign, Nissan and the DOT will develop educational and promotional content for social media and publicity on how to safely and responsibly travel to local tourist destinations. These include tips for land travel in the new normal, social distancing guides, health protocols for visiting specific destinations, and updates on the latest spots that have reopened for visitors. 

“The DOT is committed to reviving the country’s tourism industry from the harsh impacts of the pandemic. We thank Nissan Philippines for being a partner in tourism recovery by promoting health and safety protocols for road trips. It is a timely effort as we have reopened Baguio City and Ilocos Norte to Luzon residents, both of which can be accessed by land travel,” says Romulo-Puyat. 

“We hope that this campaign will encourage all Filipinos to practice safe and responsible travel as they return to local tourist spots and enjoy the beauty of our country,” she added. 

“Nissan’s vision is to enrich people’s lives by making their journeys safe, smart, and fun. We want to promote safe and responsible travels with our innovative and dependable vehicles, so that our customers can enjoy adventures with family and friends. Tourism has become a passion for Nissan in the Philippines over the years, which is why we are truly excited to partner with the Department of Tourism to promote the tourism sector towards its recovery,” says Najima.

“We thank Sec. Bernadette Romulo-Puyat for taking on the challenge to revive the tourism sector. Your daring spirit to overcome the odds through perseverance and passion are values that Nissan shares and admires,” he added. 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism industries all over the world have been heavily affected, as stricter travel restrictions were implemented to deter the spread of the virus. In countries such as the Philippines, the tourism industry contributed 13 percent to the economy in 2019. 

In a survey conducted by the DOT, results showed that domestic leisure travel will be the main driver in the recovery of the tourism industry in the Philippines. With health and safety as the top priority of travelers, road trips via private vehicles were found to be the best way for domestic travel under the new normal.