Nueva Era tribal folks undergo free tour guiding seminar

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

NUEVA ERA, Ilocos Norte—At least 30 Tingguians in this town’s newest eco-tourism destination graduated as full-pledged tour guides with the seminar the Department of Tourism in cooperation with the Nueva Era government conducted on March 18-20 for free.

Ma. Milagros Gonzales, DOT Laoag sub-office provincial director said all the accredited participants are “first timers” in terms of ushering foreign and local tourists visiting the government-run eco-cultural park and tribal village here since its launch last January.

The three-day training-workshop featured a series of lectures and actual demonstration on basic tourist reception and tour-guiding techniques, participated by selected staff of the local government unit of Nueva Era and some interested local residents here dominated by the Tingguians.

Specifically, participants were taught how to usher a tourist within the eco-cultural park including ample knowledge about the different tourist destinations here, its history, and culture; basic tour guiding skills; effective customer service and the duties and responsibilities of a tourist guide.

Last February, Nueva Era Mayor Aldrin Garvida and Gonzales met with DOT Regional Director Martin Valera to personally request for the conduct of tour guiding seminar here to professionalize tour guiding in Nueva Era town and to further equip practicing outdoor tourist guides in providing quality services for tourists.

Inspired by the successful implementation of eco-tourism development in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia where Ilocos Norte Governor Ma. Imelda R. Marcos and a group of local chief executives and department heads visited last year, the new eco-cultural park located just about 40 kilometers from Laoag City, was conceptualized in support of the provincial government’s effort to promote local tourism industry and boost the economy by creating more jobs and alternative livelihood for the locals.

The eco-cultural park and tribal village of Nueva Era town offers a unique experience for lovers of nature ideal for family picnic, mountain biking, trekking, swimming and adventure with a canopy walk and passing through inter-connected tree houses and native Tingguian houses including cottages and villas made of indigenous materials.

Also, tribal dancers provide entertainment for tourists while feasting on Nueva Era’s native delicacies and exotic foods.

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