Catanduanes to train locals on tourism industry skills

By Connie Calipay

The Catanduanes Provincial Tourism Office will conduct a nine-day eco-tour guide training for the Abihao Point tour guide association composed of at least 30 locals from Baras town that aims to improve the locals’ interpretative skills in nature guiding.

Carmel Bonifacio Garcia, Catanduanes tourism officer, said the activity is part of the province’s tourism recovery efforts as Catandaunes community quarantine status is now on Alert Level 1.

“This is geared towards capacitating our tourism frontliners with relevant knowledge, skills, and proper attitude to regain and improve the overall tourism experience of our tourists and guests as we move towards #ExcitingRestart and bounce back the local tourism industry in the months ahead,” Garcia said.

She also said that the training will introduce trainees to various nature-based activities for them to develop a holistic knowledge of nature and nature guiding that will start on June 28 up to July 02 and July 10-13, this year.

“The eco-tour guides will learn the overview of the tourism industry at national, regional, provincial, and local levels, the current trends and culture in tourism, local history and culture, tourist safety and security, Filipino brand of service, basic life support, first aid, and common emergencies,” she added.

The training also includes water safety, swimming assessment, land drills, survival and compass reading, basic ropemanship, ecotourism, biodiversity (Flora and Fauna), basic geography, forest and habitat types, birdwatching, effective customer service, and values formation, tour guiding techniques, and tour script presentation.

Catanduanes province is well known for its white beaches and beautiful breathtaking mountains.