DAVAO City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) is urging more licensed and accredited tour guides to cater to the increasing number of tourists in the city.
CTOO head Generose Tecson told SunStar Thursday, March 28, 2019, that with the city’s 2.4 million tourists in 2018, they now prefer English speaking tour guides who could also speak other languages such as Mandarin, Japanese, and Korean.
“There is a need for more accredited tour guides because there are more tourists now. Most are educational tours and we need knowledgeable guides for that. There is also influx kasi of Chinese tourists,” Tecson said in a text message.
CTOO posted on their Facebook page on Wednesday, March 27, the names of individuals who have license from their office and are accredited by the Department of Tourism (DOT)-Davao.
There were 18 licensed and accredited tour guides and Tecson said that they needed at least 30 to cope with the demand.
Licensed and accredited tour guides in the city are Amor Rey Puno, Angelie Labunog, Blademer Soguilon, Elvera Reyes, Fil Gauvin Catada, Ivy Soguilon, Jonathan Engbino, Jove Flores, Mary Grace Plata, Oscar Barabona Jr., Pol Caliso, Rachelle Ganoria, Randy Tubo, Regina Rosa Tecson, Ricky Veloso, Rolan Emboscado, Sharon Gay Caeda, and Wilfredo Suyko.
“[The current number of tour guides in the city] is not enough but there are other guides who did not renew yet but are working as tour guides. Posting their names is our way of encouraging others to renew because it will be unfair to those who took the time and effort to get their licenses,” she said.
Tecson said these tour guides were trained by the DOT 11.
“It is the DOT 11 that trains these guides and the last batch was last year. Those who passed just need to finish their on-the-job training and get their accreditation,” she said.