More than its rising toll on human lives, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has also affected various businesses, with the tourism sector among the worst-hit. Tourism-related activities contributed 13 percent to the Philippine economy in 2019, but pandemic quarantine measures have eroded these gains.
COVID-19 travel restrictions have had a severe effect on the country's tourism industry
Nissan Philippines is among those that are eager to put the economy back on the road, still with everyone’s health and safety in mind. The company has partnered with the Department of Tourism (DOT) is launching the Safe Trips campaign, which aims to promote safe and responsible land travel and boost local tourism.
Nissan Philippines President Atsushi Najima and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat led the contract signing during a virtual press conference held on November 5.
Why land travel? A survey conducted by the DOT showed that domestic leisure travel shows the most promise in driving the local tourism industry’s recovery. Road trips using private vehicles were found to be the best way for domestic travel under the new normal, as long as the health and safety of travelers are prioritized.
Nissan and DOT's virtual press conference
Under the program, Nissan and the DOT will jointly develop educational and promotional content covering responsible travels to local tourist destinations.
These will include tips for land travel in the new normal, social distancing guidelines, health protocols in place for specific destinations, and updates on the latest tourist spots that have reopened. These will be disseminated and publicized through social media channels.
"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 Secretary 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.”
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Nissan hopes to get the tourism industry (and the economy) going again
For his part, Najima expressed excitement over Nissan’s partnership with the DOT. “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.”
More updates on the transport industry and beyond are in-store at Philkotse.com.