DOT-7 to prepare tour guides, tour drivers for 2 big events

GABATO

The Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7) will prepare the close to 200 accredited tour guides and tour drivers in Cebu and Bohol for two big international events to be held in the Philippines next year.

Judy Gabato, DOT-7 officer-in-charge, said they would let the tour guides and tour drivers in Cebu and Bohol to undergo a “refresher course” to equip them with among others tourism trends.

“They have to be updated on tourism trends in preparation for the hosting of international events next year,” said Gabato, who was referring to the 30th Asean Summit and the Miss Universe pageant.

The tour guides and tour drivers in Cebu and Bohol will undergo continuing education seminars this month.

She said that the refresher course would upgrade the quality and their competence to deliver excellent tourism services.

“Mag-learn sila about topics, which include Philippine history, local history and culture, environment, and other related subjects,” Gabato told Cebu Daily News in an interview.

The Asean Summit 2017 will kick off in Davao in January and will have a series of meetings hosted by the provinces of Cebu and Bohol later in April.

Gabato said the Asean Summit National Organizing Committee already checked last month accommodation establishments in Bohol and Cebu, particularly on Mactan Island.

Meanwhile, the Miss Universe pageant will kick off on Camiguin Island in northern Mindanao and will also feature several of the Philippines’ tourist destinations including Davao, Palawan, Boracay, and Cebu.

The coronation night will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on January 30.

Tourism secretary Wanda Teo earlier announced that Cebu was being considered as a venue for the pageant’s swimsuit competition, but Gabato said she still has to confirm whether the program is still the same.

The Philippines last hosted the summit in Cebu in 2007 and in Manila in 1987.

While they still don’t know exactly how many delegates are coming for the summit or how many visitors the pageant will attract, Gabato said they are expecting more tourists to visit the regions, particularly Central Visayas.

The DOT, through its Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), has also been recently hosting large groups including Chinese media and travel agents, among others, to make sure they visit the islands in the region.

“We want to let them see how beautiful our islands are,” said Gabato.

The tourism official earlier said her office was confident it can meet its target of 5.8 million tourist arrivals in the region by the end of the year, adding that they are very close to hitting and are hoping to even surpass it.

Tourism arrivals in the region, based on data collected from accommodation establishments, stood at 3.16 million for the first seven months of 2016.