It is possible once more to enjoy a fun and exciting getaway to your favorite local destinations, without sacrificing your health and safety along the way.
That’s the overarching message behind the Safe Trips campaign, a partnership between Nissan Philippines and the Department of Tourism (DOT). The two institutions recently renewed the partnership for a second year after a successful first year run.
To demonstrate that traveling safely and responsibly should not—and do not—get in the way of a memorable trip, Nissan brought select motoring reporters and online personalities to Boracay via a 12-hour land and sea journey (RoRo).
With Nissan’s line-up of vehicles—the Nissan Navara, Terra, Almera, and LEAF, the automaker wanted to promote and demonstrate long distance land travel to reach popular local destinations. The vehicles were equipped with Nissan Intelligent Mobility (NIM) features that represent the brand’s focus on safety and comfort.
During the trip, participants got to drive the Nissan LEAF electric vehicle (EV) around the island. (Fun fact: Only white cars can be driven around Boracay, except for fire trucks which are still red). Some even got the chance to take the Nissan cars around Aklan, visiting many of the popular tourist stops in the region.
Set against the backdrop of Boracay’s pristine white sands, the Japanese automaker and the DOT held a ceremonial signing of the renewal of the partnership for the Safe Trips campaign.
“Through this campaign, we have seen for ourselves that safety and responsibility are not obstacles to enjoying the beautiful destinations of the Philippines. In fact, they are important factors that make your trip a more enjoyable experience for you and your loved ones. This is an advocacy that we are excited to continue with the DOT,” said Atsushi Najima, president and managing director of Nissan Philippines.
The Safe Trips campaign also showcased how the electric vehicle could be useful in disaster response, with the car maker presenting the Nissan LEAF in an event attended by hotel executives, members of the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP), DOT, and the local government leaders of Aklan. The punchline is that, during the event, all speakers, television sets, and even a coffee maker, were powered by the LEAF.
Since its launch in November 2020, Nissan and the DOT have developed educational and promotional content on how to safely and responsibly travel to local tourist destinations. This includes social media content that provides useful tips for land travel and updates on reopened attractions.
“As more people travel to our tourist destinations all over the country, jobs and sustainable livelihoods are restored and created for millions of Filipinos,” said tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat, who attended the ceremonial signing virtually.
As travel restrictions across the country further eases, Nissan executives said they intend to hold more road trips in different parts of the country in an effort to advance sustainable tourism and help resuscitate the industry in a safe manner.