CEBU, Philippines - Tourist guides from towns in Cebu South are to be trained on basic life support and first aid this September before the Provincial Tourism Office (PTO) will launch its ecotourism program.
"These skills are necessary in case there are guests who meet an accident," remarked PTO Head Boboi Costas.
“Big 5” is an ecotourism program which brings both local and foreign tourists to five destinations in Cebu South namely Alcoy, Alegria, Aloguinsan, Argao and Boljoon.
These five towns offer a variety of adventures like bird watching, nature trekking, farm-to-table tours, river cruise, heritage walk, and culinary journeys.
Costas said that they will not launch the "Big 5" program until the community-based front liners have completed training.
Since July of this year, PTO has already conducted three trainings including on product development, food and beverage presentation, and interpretation and tour guiding.
Costas reiterated that the tour guides from the five towns were required to attend these trainings.
The trainings were facilitated in order to standardize tour guiding and raise the level of customer service, according to Costas.
He also said that they wish to educate and create a meaningful experience for the guests.
The province picked the five towns as the primary eco-tourism destinations in the island because of existing community-based organizations which are already organized and can be tapped if there are tourism activities. (FREEMAN)