Bonamine partners with DOT to promote domestic tourism

Trek Sagada’s underwater river. Weave tinalak in Koronadal. Monitor whales in Bais City. Bonamine and the Department of Tourism extended the invitation for Filipinos to go-and-see the Philippines with a fresh perspective with the launch of the “Basta Pinas” domestic travel advocacy initiative in support of the DOT’s Pilipinas, Tara Na! campaign.

 “We appreciate the assistance of private institutions such as Johnson & Johnson in encouraging our countrymen to rediscover the Philippines’ natural beauty and rich culture — for us to realize that our country has so much more to offer. Bonamine’s travel advocacy supports our DOT’s Pilipinas, Tara Na! domestic tourism campaign. This collaboration will help in getting information on our country’s hidden charms to a wider audience and we are looking forward to seeing more Filipinos traveling within the Philippines," DOT Secretary Alberto Lim said.

Tina Sabarre, Johnson & Johnson Philippines Marketing Director, said, “Our partnership with DOT to promote local destinations increases appreciation and with that, conservation awareness. Domestic tourism also helps sustain the tourism industry during the off-season, which in turn provides jobs for locals and spreads the wealth from the city to the countryside.”

Jerome Go, Johnson & Johnson’s Senior Brand Manager added, “As a brand that provides relief from motion sickness for you to enjoy the ride, Bonamine’s support of domestic tourism is just natural. Bonamine first launched a domestic-travel advocacy in 2003 called ‘Tara Na! Biyahe Tayo!’ which signed on 21 OPM artists to sing an invitation to travel around the Philippines. With airline and shipping companies that offer low fares making travel even easier since then, our invitation now is to see the country with fresh perspective.”

Facilitating this “fresh perspective” is the “Basta Pinas” website, soon to launch, which does not only contain destination ideas and how-to-get there information but also other people’s stories to inspire personalizing your own journeys. The site also assists in seeing the familiar setting in fresh ways with suggestions such as: visiting locations where a local film was shot, taking a photo every hundred steps, or visiting old school grounds.  The beauty of the Philippines through a different lens  is captured in the photography of campaign partner Chasing Light whose members’ photographs grace the official website and other communication collaterals.

Meanwhile, on the “Basta Pinas” Facebook Page, a “Saan sa Pinas” contest—that is, identifying a location based on one photo-puzzle piece at a time—by end March kicks off a series of such contests with travel-related prizes. “Like” us on facebook.com/BastaPinas for more information.