LOCAL tourism industry boost is currently benefiting tricycle drivers trained as tour guides in Sipalay City.
Jerick Lacson, city tourism operations officer, said part of the City Government’s push for sustainable tourism development is the empowerment of stakeholders.
Lacson said they want to involve stakeholders, including tricycle tour guides, as leaders and prime tourism development frontliners.
“We see them as an important aspect, as an important part of the tourism industry thus, we will give them the opportunity to be trained as tour guides so they can earn more than being tricycle drivers,” he added.
Sipalay City Government, through its tourism office, started the effort to train tricycle drivers as tour guides this year.
Though some tricycle drivers are providing tour guide services in the previous years, they were just formalized this year.
Currently, there are 10 tricycle drivers from two associations who were trained to become tour guides.
The city eyes to eventually increase the number of tricycle tour guides as it continues to implement interventions such as conducting trainings on tour guiding, basic knowledge about Sipalay City, ensuring the safety of tourists, wildlife interaction, among others.
They will also be provided with the technical skills like proper guiding and ways on responding to the needs of tourists, especially during an emergency.
Lacson said there is a pending ordinance accrediting tourist transportation in the city. Once passed, tricycle drivers will be given license as tour guides.
Lacson pointed out that in the past few years, major resorts are the only one’s benefiting from the development in the tourism industry. Although tricycle drivers are earning, yet it is minimal.
“So we want to involve the tricycle drivers, mainstream them in the industry, so they can be part of the tourism value chain,” he said, adding that “making them feel that they are part of the industry would also allow them to participate and contribute in our programs.”
For Bert Noses, 47, a motorcycle tour guide for years now, the initiative has really helped them a lot especially in terms of income.
From an earning of P500 per day as tricycle driver, Noses said they can generate an average of P1, 500 daily as tricycle tour guides.
The City Tourism Office has set the rates for tricycle tour guides ranging from P20 to P1, 000 depending on the kind of service, whether one-way or a whole-day trip.
“Apart from the bigger income, serving as tour guides has given us satisfaction. We feel that we are part of promoting our city,” he said, adding that the program has given them a “status” in the society where they can be of help to its progress.
Aside from rates, the city is also planning to improve the aesthetic aspect of tricycles used in touring visitors.
Through this, tricycle tour guides can further attract more tourists.