On the DOT
By Atty. Helen J. Camarista

Putting premium on DOT accreditation
(3rd of a series)

Now it can be announced. The 2005 Tour Guiding Seminar organized by the Department of Tourism Region VI is pushing through on October 17-31 at the DOT Region VI Conference Room, Bonifacio Drive, Iloilo City. It is limited to 25 participants with a registration fee of Php 2,976.00 for the 15-day intensive training.

Topics to be taken up during the seminar includes Philippine Tourism Industry and Current Issues, Philippine History (Focus: Ilonggo History), Western Visayas Geography and Map Reading, Western Visayas Arts and Culture, Ecotourism:Western Visayas Sites, Western Visayas Monuments /Museums/Antiques, Western Visayas Folk Dances, Western Visayas Handicraft Industry, Western Visayas Flora and fauna, Interpersonal Communication Skills, Guiding in a Old Church With/Without Mass, Guiding at Meal Time, Guiding in Museo Iloilo,Tourist Security and Police Relations, Tour Guide Accreditation Rules and Regulations, Basic First Aid Technique, Airline Ticket Interpretation, Tour Destinations: Luzon, Mindanao, Tour Destinations: Visayas (Focus: Western Visayas)Tour Itinerary Planning and Management, Hotel Procedures, Tourist Behavior and Market Profile, The Business Structure of Tour Guiding, Tour Guiding as a Profession, Practical Guiding Techniques. and The Mabuhay Host Program.

There will be a demonstration on how tour guiding is done in an old church when there is an on-going mass and when there is no mass going on, in the Museo Iloilo and during a scheduled meal that is part of the tour itinerary. Two written examinations that will last four hours each are designed to test stored knowledge and developed skills towards the middle and end of the 15-day training. Participants shall have to undergo a one-day practical guiding techniques exercises and exposure and actual guiding during the City and Countryside Familiarization Tour for another day. A one-day Mabuhay Host Program, a courtesy seminar, will also be part of the schedule of activities.

This seminar is a step towards professionalization of tour guiding as an integral part of the tourism industry of Iloilo. It is a pre-licensing and pre-accreditation requirement of the local government unit concerned and the Department of Tourism, respectively.

Interested parties may contact the Department of Tourism Region VI at Telephone No. 337-54-11/335-02-45 for more details.

(to be continued)

Kalakbay Awards 2005

(Last part)

The Creative Awards are presented in recognition of the professional skills and insights of individuals and entities in their marketing, and promotion efforts, taking into account the creativity , imagination, ingenuity and factual presentation of information; organization and implementation; effectiveness of the program /project in terms of achieving client satisfaction. Included in these awards are Tour Package of the Year, Incentive Travel Program of the Year –Trip Delivery, Travel Writer of Year and Travel Publication of the Year.

The Individual Awards which include the Tour Guide of the Year, Frontliner of the Year, Taxi Driver of the Year and Tourist Transport Driver of the Year.

The Destination Award is presented to a destination in recognition of its contribution to the development and promotion of the tourism industry through the cooperative efforts exhibited by both private and local government sectors.

Environmental Tourism will be given a special award in two divisions: Eco-Tourism Product and Best Business Practice. This award is presented to a tourism-oriented company for its effective management of the environment. This award also recognizes a tourism product or activity developed in a locality through the concerted efforts of local government units, NGOs and private organizations that heightened public awareness and enhanced the understanding of environmental issues and promoted sustainable tourism development.

The Honorary Ambassador of Tourism Award is presented to an individual or a private organization that has outstanding contribution in the development and promotion of the tourism industry in the Philippines. On the other hand, there's the Lifetime Achievement Award that will be presented to an individual in recognition of his/her noteworthy career as a tourism practitioner.

Details on the Kalakbay Awards 2005 can be obtained from the Department of Tourism Region VI Tel. No. 337-54-11/335-02-45.