Ilocos Norte needs more tour guides

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

LAOAG CITY—With the influx of foreign tourists visiting Ilocos Norte, travel operators said they are in need of more tour guides to assist guests and make their stay memorable in the province.

According to Angel Lao, former president of the Ilocos Norte Travel and Tours Association and a travel agency owner, she said Ilocos residents who are still looking for employment or those who wish to have an alternative source of income may consider attending a short term course on tour guiding seminar to join the exciting world of growing tourism industry in the region.

As a ground handler of shore excursions in this northern part of Luzon, Lao said tour guiding is an exciting job with a good pay.

“We are looking for more tour guides as we expect more tourists to visit our province this year,” she said as she observed a shortage of tour guides whenever there are cruise ships that simultaneously dock at the Currimao seaport in this province and at the Salomague port in neighboring Cabugao, Ilocos Sur.

To date, the Department of Tourism records show there are at least 28 accredited tour guides in Ilocos Norte and most of them are active. There are 10 in Ilocos Sur; La Union, 68; and Pangasinan, 63. Almost half of the tour guides in La Union and Pangasinan however are inactive.

On January 6, 2020, buses of foreign guests were spotted in downtown Laoag as they visited various historical landmarks here. They were ferried by M/S The World, a residential yacht containing 141 passengers which made its maiden call at the Currimao seaport while the M/V Royal Caribbean also made its return to the Salomague Port in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur.

The tourism department said more cruise ships are expected to conduct ocular inspection at the Currimao seaport while the port is being improved for public safety.

“We are expecting more dockings in the future as the Department of Tourism and the national government [have] pledged their support in developing our ports and making Ilocos Norte one of the main cruise ports in the country,” said Xavier Ruiz, provincial tourism operations officer II of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office.

With the pilot arrival of Superstar Virgo at the Currimao seaport in 2017, Ilocos Norte welcomed a steady stream of international cruise ships in the province which prompted the sustainable development of tourist attractions, local livelihoods, and employment opportunities.

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