Last year, the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT) organized the first Asia Pacific Drive Tourism Conference, Auto and Travel Show. Its objective was to strengthen partnership and cooperation among countries promoting sustainable tourism through “Drive Tourism” as a major contributor to economic growth and as an effective medium in achieving the goals of the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020. The event also kicked off the DOT’s Drive Tourism initiative.
This is how Drive-Tourism began: In 2009, AAP Lakbay Inc. was established to serve the travel needs of AAP members in particular and the motoring public in general. Aiming to provide AAP members a quick online roadmap to key tourist destinations in the country, AAP Lakbay developed a website and started organizing caravans. In 2012, AAP Lakbay became a full-fledged travel agency and started to use the trade name AAP Travel. Through the partnership of AAP Travel and the International School of Sustainable Tourism (ISST) with the coordination of regional DOT offices, Drive Tourism Caravans became a regular tourism activity in the country and Drive Tourism was born.