PGIN holds professional tour-guiding seminar, accreditation

Dr. Norma Respicio talks on textiles and inabel on October 7 at the seminar. (Alaric Yanos)

By Jennifer T. Pambid

PGIN-CMO

With Ilocos Norte emerging as a top tourist destination in the country, the provincial government in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT) offered a 21-day tour-guiding seminar and accreditation for aspiring professional tour guides.

The seminar started on October 4, 2016 at the Taoid museum activity area in Laoag City with at least 25 participants from all around the province.

Ilocos Norte tourism officer Aian Raquel said that “the training is focused on the technical aspects of tour-guiding and hospitality and there are content-specific lectures (on) Ilocos Norte as a (tourist) destination.”

Upon completion of the workshop, participants will be accredited by the DOT as professional tour guides and will have opportunity to earn higher pay than the ordinary guides.

“This is an opportunity for our interested tour guides, and even those who have been practicing tour-guiding in the province and region, because this will give them a chance to get a license from the DOT. This will show that they are trained and professional tour guides, and (that) they are able to handle bigger accounts,” Mr. Raquel added.

Tourism experts such as Ivan Henares of the Heritage Conservation Society of the Philippines will share their knowledge and experiences to the participants.

Norma Respicio, a prime scholar on Philippines textiles and ‘inabel,’ a distinctly Ilocano woven cloth done on traditional wooden loom, was also invited to lecture.

Mr. Raquel disclosed further that Billy Malacura of Escuella Taller in Intramuros, Manila will also share his expertise on museums and other heritage structures.

The Ilocos Norte Tourism Office continues to encourage more Ilocanos, including students, to apply for the seminar the soonest.

Registration fee is at P4,500.00, inclusive of food and materials for the whole duration of the seminar.

Applicants who are not graduate of tourism-related courses may also be accepted “as long as they have the willingness and passion to be of service to visitors as tour guides.”

The province of Ilocos Norte welcomed the highest number of tourists this year during the Holy Week recording more than 400,000 visitors or a 91% increase compared to the same period last year, hence a growing need for tour guides.

Basic life support is taught to the participants last October 7 (Alaric Yanos)

The booming tourism in Ilocos Norte has prompted the increase in livelihood, business and construction in the province, especially near the Pagudpud beaches, Paoay sand dunes, Bangui windmills and Paoay church.

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