DOT-2 trains transport service providers as escort guides

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Feb. 6 (PIA) -- The Department of Tourism (DOT) region 2 has trained local transport service providers on effective customer service to become effective escort tourist guides in the province of Cagayan.

Blessida Diwa, regional director, said the seminar aims to provide an avenue to the coachmen (kutcheros) and tricycle drivers an opportunity to serve as guide to the tourists in Cagayan, which will eventually help in achieving government’s thrust of boosting the tourism industry.

“They are not called tourist guides instead they will be called “escort guides” to champion local and foreign tourists in the tourism destinations of the province for us to maximize our potentials to market our tourism industry,” Diwa said.

The participants were given lectures on the tourism facts and figures of the province and trained the participants on how to narrate them to make it informative and convincing to the tourists.

The department also spared time to encourage the participants to develop always positive attitude to instill positive remarks and convince the tourists to return or relate their experiences to others, and likewise to let them feel and realize how hospitable Cagayano people are.

“They were taught on escort guide conduct, guiding techniques to remember and the proper ways to approach the visitor. It is important that we ensure customer satisfaction to fulfill of the expectations of our target clients,” Diwa saidd.

She said, out of the hundreds of tricycle drivers and coachmen, 14 were chosen to serve as the pioneer escort guides in the city of Tuguegarao; however, DOT will be increasing  the number of escort guides in other areas of the province and to be duplicated regionwide. The chosen escort guides were also accredited by DOT. (OTB/PIA-2)

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&;webregion=R02&article=461328509269