DOT fetes tour guides during Cebu summit

CEBU, Philippines — Calling tour guides the “voice, heart, and soul” of the nation’s tourism, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco paid tribute to the country’s tour guides during the First Philippine Tour Guides Summit held in Cebu City, vowing stronger government support and long-term protection for this sector.

“The time for overlooking tourism has come to an end. The time to give tourism its rightful place is now,” Frasco said, stressing that tour guides are at the forefront of ensuring tourism continues to fuel the Philippine economy. She cited that for every peso spent on tourism, the return is ?5.50, a rate unmatched by other sectors.

She reported that over 4,500 guides nationwide are now accredited, with Cebu leading in numbers. She highlighted efforts to make the industry inclusive, citing training programs for deaf and senior citizen guides.

Since 2022, more than 341,000 tourism workers have been trained under the Filipino Brand of Service Excellence program, which she said has been recognized as the best in Asia Pacific.

Frasco also noted the distribution of more than a thousand tour guide kits containing hats, tumblers, sun protection, and electronic lapels to help guides perform their work better.

Frasco lamented that tour guides are often left unprotected despite their contributions. She said the DOT has already provided personal accident insurance to guides, even without dedicated funding.

Tour guides will also soon be officially identified as a priority sector for government assistance in times of calamity. Through a partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the DOT has begun delivering alternative livelihood training and emergency aid, including more than 15,000 food packs distributed to affected workers in disaster-hit areas.

Frasco also announced that the DOT is drafting a Magna Carta for Tourism Workers, a proposed law that seeks to institutionalize lasting protection, security during crises, and dignity for tourism workers. Consultations with stakeholders, including the Philippine Federation of Professional Tour Guides, will ensure that workers’ concerns are reflected in the bill.

“We cannot govern from the comfort of our aircon offices in Manila. We need to go out, meet the people, and show up for them,” she said.

Frasco urged tour guides to continue being storytellers and defenders of the country’s image: “You are not only our tour guides. You are the defenders of our story. You are the keepers of that which is good about the Philippines.”

She ended her speech with an emotional message of gratitude:

“As long as there are tour guides to tell our stories, the Philippines will never lose its voice. As long as there are tour guides to welcome the world, the Philippines will never lose its heart. And as long as there are tour guides who love our islands, the Philippines will never lose its soul.” — (FREEMAN)