BEING A TOUR GUIDE IS NOT EASY!!!

This week has been very challenging! Being a Tour Guide is not as easy as what many people think, having to deal with difficult guests is a challenge. At times their demands and requests are unacceptable! We are in the service industry and our job is to provide good service but we are after all still human and we still need respect.

I have travelled to many countries in my life at a very young age, I went to Malaysia on my own when I was 12 and travelled to the Philippines when I was 18. In my early twenties, I have travelled to USA & different parts of Asia. The furthest I have been is Germany & England in my early thirties. I cannot remember an incident that I have given any problems or difficulties to anybody when I travelled to their countries. Even thought I am a paying customer, I still treat them with respect. Perhaps I was brought up well by my parents, they always remind me not to create problems or difficulties for people.

When guests arrived at the airport, I always welcome them with a big smile. In the bus, I will introduce everything about Boracay Island and different activities they can enjoy during their stay in the island. As a professional Tour Guide, we will assist them with their Check-In and conduct an Island Orientation so that they have a better understanding of the island. I always encourage guests to take up different activities in the island but never impose on them. If they wish to take up the services with me, I will be glad but if they don’t, I will still provide the same service for them.

However; I can’t accept those guests who expect exceeding services and not willing to pay for it. There is a saying; Cheap Things Are Never Good & Good Things Are Never Cheap! If they paid for CHEAP PACKAGES then don’t expect to receive good things in their packages. Don’t expect to eat in expensive restaurants with buffet meals. You are getting what you have paid and as a Tour Guide, we just follow whatever the contract stated. If guests are unhappy with the food, please don’t blame it on the Tour Guide but on the packages that they have paid. For those who are vegetarian, please take note that the island is not easy to be a vegetarian. If you are a vegetarian because of health then you can be selective with the food that you are eating but if you are a vegetarian for the sake of religion then please be kind to others and don’t create difficulty. I believe your religion teaches you to be kind and merciful then please act like one, don’t be a hypocrite!

For those who drink, do take note that not all Tour Guides drink! Perhaps I can consider the few in the island that don’t drink and smoke. I am a PADI Master Instructor & an experience Technical Diving Instructor, I take good care of my health and I don’t smoke and drink. Furthermore; I always believe being a responsible Tour Guide, one shouldn’t drink. If you drink with guests and you are also drunk with guests then who will take care of them and bring them safely back to their resort? As a professional, I don’t drink with guests but there are guests will complain that I don’t drink with them. Well, I am a Tour Guide and I am not a bartender.

We are Tour Guides and we are not Saints, we can’t control the weather. There are also many things beyond our control but just imagine some guests will ask questions such as why is it raining, why is it flooding or why is it so hot in the island? Some guests will be unhappy with the Tour Guide because of the rain & sun. During the journey to Boracay, we have clearly stated that walking is part of the adventure so is normal for us to work from Station 3 to Station 1 or even Friday’s Beach. If they don’t wish to walk then pay to take tricycle but when I mention they need to pay for the tricycle, they will be unhappy! There were some who even complain, why Tour Guide is taking the tricycle with us without paying?

We also have feeling as Tour Guides, we are also human! We also need respect! At times these guests thought we are in service industry and we should always be service orientated and expect exceeding services. They have forgotten about respect, they have forgotten about basic manner as a human being! At the end of the day, they will be classified by us as BAD GUESTS and this also bring disgrace to the country they are coming from. Worst! A disgrace to their parents because guests with bad attitude, we usually said they don’t have proper upbringing by their parents!

As a Tour Guide, we will always do our best. We always hope guests will come with smiles and leave the island with smiles. We will always do our best to provide the best services for our guests, make them happy. For guests that took up services with the Tour Guide are usually those who are happy with the service but those who usually complain are those who are not willing to pay extra for other services and yet expect exceeding services. I always wonder why spent so much money in the airfare and do nothing in the island. Is more fun in the Philippines but is even more fun in Boracay! However; if you don’t do anything then nothing will be fun in the island.

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當導遊沒那麼簡單!!!

這禮拜，是一個考驗忍耐極限度的禮拜，大家都是人生父母養的，服務業也是人，為何人要處處去為難人？ 當有些人做出無理要求，我們可以當做考驗，我們可以當作經驗，我們忍氣吞聲賣的不只是專業，我們賣笑賣服務，但是當你提出要求時請將心比心，你受得了這樣的對待或當你被提出這樣的要求時，你是否也做得到？

我從小也是世界各地到處跑，也是當過客人被人服務，但我卻不會提出無理要求或冷眼對待作服務業的人，可能是我的父母從小教我種種做人處事的道理跟教養。當客人抵達機場，我們會以最大的笑容迎接各位貴賓蒞臨，第一天做完導覽，在遊覽車上也會介紹長灘島，照例會詢問自費行程是否參加，如無意願，也不要求或強迫，我們做到應儘的義務告知這些吃喝玩樂的訊息，同樣是以專業的態度去面對各位貴賓。

我無法接受這些不想付出代價又提出無理要求的人，一分錢一分貨，好的東西不一定便宜，便宜的東西不一定是最好的，想要擁有好的享受，說句現實話有“錢”可以滿足你的需求。

做為導遊，我們依照合約，依照他們買的行程去帶，行程的好與壞都是客人自己買的自己選擇的，和我們無關，吃素的貴賓必須要瞭解到，在長灘島“素食”是件很困難的事，不管是為了宗教信仰或身體健康，在我們的觀念中，吃素的人應該是很有教養懂得體諒別人慈悲為懷的師主！而不是一位虛偽帶著假面具為難別人的人。

做為潛水教練長，必須保持著以身作則的形象及良好的體力去面對大眾及服務大眾，當導遊時，我不會和客人喝酒，是因為我必須保持清醒看著所有貴賓的安全，況且導遊的工作內容裡面並沒有包含“陪酒”。我是導遊我不是神，下雨，天氣熱，淹水，這些天決定的東西我怎麼會知道為什麼，怎麼去控制？在車上已經先說明清楚，長灘島這個地方就是走路靠兩條腿去認識這裡，不想走路ＯＫ，錢給下去就可以不用走路，坐車囉！還有客人曾經客訴“導遊坐車不付錢”這件事！當場傻眼在那裡，這也可以“客訴”？？？

人與人之間應有的尊重與對待是基本的，不管是什麼行業是哪一國人是什麼樣的人，這叫做“做人的道理”。不論是哪個國家的人，希望不要連這基本的做人處事態度都沒有，這樣只會丟了教育你的父母長輩老師的臉。相見即是緣！出國就是放鬆渡假就是要開開心心的出門平平安安的回家，所以我們會以專業的態度服務各位貴賓，我們會以最大笑容面對各位貴賓，行程內容的安排我們也會盡量做到最好帶著各位貴賓。像有些貴賓花了這麼多錢離鄉背景來到這裡什麼都不玩什麼都不做，難道來這卻只是為了看沙看海看太陽嗎？菲律賓是個有趣的國家，特別是長灘島，我希望接下來的貴賓可以好好享受長灘島的風趣及特色！大家開開心心的來渡假，也希望各位貴賓在結束行程後能回味無窮的回國，把長灘島的好帶回去分享！

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MY JOURNEY BACK TO CATICLAN...

I had an enjoyable holiday in Hong Kong & Macau, taking lots of pictures with my new Canon 7D. I took the direct flight from Hong Kong to Kalibo and upon arriving, I took a van back to Caticlan. During the journey, I heard a conservation between a Swedish & American. The American was first time to the island and the Swedish gave him some advises, telling him to be careful of Filipino that may get a chance to cheat him since he is new in the island. Telling him that tricycle driver will over charge since he is white. Telling him to be careful of commissioners in the island, they may give him a low price but different services. Telling him to be careful of his belonging, it may be stolen when unnoticed.

When I heard all these advises, I felt disgusted! Why would this Swedish gave such advises to someone who is new in the island? Is there some truth in what he said? He must have been cheated before, he must have an experience with a commissioner in the island to give such advises. He must have lost some of his belonging when he was in the island. Well, so sad to hear such advises from a foreigner giving to another foreigner who is new in the island. Why do we have such publicity? Can all these be prevented and controlled?

I lived in the Philippines for more than 10years and I have travelled to different places such as London, Germany, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan promoting Philippines as a destination for exploration, experience and excitement. It is indeed more fun in the Philippines even though I did have some bad experiences in the country and the people. I still choose to stay in the Philippines, I have lived in Boracay for almost 5years and there are so much changes and improvement done to the island but I believe there are much more to be done especially on customer service.

We are expecting more than 1,000,000 tourists for 2012, I am very positive that we will head towards this target. There is no longer lean season in the island, it is either peak or very peak or super peak! I believe as we are doing everything to market the island to reach our target, let's look into growing the business for 2013, 2014 and the years to come. A way of increasing the business will be the experiences of those who have already visited the island. Just imagine 1,000,000 tourists already visited Boracay and had a great experience and they will go back to their country and ask 2 friends to visit the island and these 2 friends will recommend their friends to visit the island, do the calculation and it will be easy for us to expect more tourists in the island in the island. This will be a great source of income!!!

However; if these 1,000,000 tourists had a bad experience in the island, do you think they will recommend their friends to visit the island? All our marketing efforts will be down to the drain and are we able to continue to enjoy the high number of tourists in the island forever? As an Accredited Tour Guide of Department of Tourism, it is my duty and responsibility to promote well of the country and island. I may have some bad experiences in the island or with some Filipino but I still choose to tell people the good things of this country and of course their experiences in the island. After every services is rendered, I always hope my guests will have a big smile on their face and sharing their good experiences with their friends.

I wish the government will not just concentrate in marketing Philippines as a destination but work on the experiences of the tourists, they are our best marketing tools! Let them go back to their countries with good experiences and they will recommend their friends to visit the country. I hope the government of Malay will have more control of tricycle drivers, not over charging tourists especially those who don't speak good English and most important drive safely on the road. I hope they will look into illegal commissioners in the island, to be fair to those who are legal to operate in the island. I hope resorts will provide more training on customer services to their staffs and teach them to value every tourists that visit their resort. Good customer services is the best value in marketing the business!

Let's work together to increase the number of tourists in the island! Mabuhay Boracay! Is more fun in the Philippines but is even more fun in Boracay Island!!!

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不要做個虛偽的人!!!

很高興把客人送回台灣了, 明天再接一團. 希望不會接到有吃素的人因為在菲律賓特別是長灘島, 吃素是件不簡單的事. 上個團有客人埋怨我, 因為我沒有特別準備素食給他們吃. 作為一個導遊, 我們都盡量安排素食料理, 可是在長灘島就是很困難. 吃素的人不是為了身體健康就是為了信仰. 信仰教我們要慈悲, 教我們怎麼體諒別人,而不要讓別人難做事,為難別人. 這樣吃素還有什麼意義呢??? 反而那些不吃素的人,更能從寬待人. 我希望他們的信仰, 能真正的好好教導他們! 不要做個虛偽的人!!! 為難別人!!!

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TOUR GUIDING IN BORACAY ISLAND...

I was honored and privileged to be interview by GMA Network under Jessica Soho about Tour Guiding in Boracay Island. Apparently; there are too many foreigner Tour Guides in the island and it seem to be so easy to secure a permit to be Tour Guide. By securing some requirements set by Malay City Hall and making an initial payment of Php20,000.00, a foreigner can be a Tour Guide in the island. You may be wondering what about Working Visa? You will be surprised by making payment of Php30,000.00, they will be issued with a Special Work Permit for 6months and this can be renewed after expiration. I always wonder what is a Special Work Permit? If you are working in the Philippines and you are a foreigner then you must secure a 9G Working Visa.

Furthermore, are these Tour Guides trained? Have they attended the Tour Guide Course organized by Department of Tourism Philippines in Kalaw Manila? Last 2008, I attended the Tour Guide Course organized by Department of Tourism, it was 1 month course and I learnt so much about guiding and most important, I learnt much about the history and cultures about Philippines. Being a Tour Guide is not just about going to the airport to pick up guests then try to sell them activities in the island and send them back to the airport after 5days in the island. What about history? What about cultures? I always wonder if they know about the history of Boracay? If everybody can be a Tour Guide then why is there a need for us to attend the Tour Guide Course organized by Department of Tourism? Why do I have to waste 1 month of my time attending the course? According to the rules and regulations set by Department of Tourism Philippines; if you are a Tour Guide, you must be accredited and to be accredited, you must be trained! How many accredited Tour Guide are presently in the island?

During the interview, I was questioned about the number of foreigner Tour Guides are more than the local Tour Guides. What do I think about it? Well, I believe everybody can market the Philippines in regardless of Nationality. I am a Singaporean living in the Philippines for more than 10years and presently hold a Permanent Resident VISA in the country. I have travelled to different parts of Philippines and promoting the country is part of my passion. Indeed it is more fun in the Philippines and I believe that as long as people are trained then they are qualify to be a Tour Guide. If the local Tour Guides are willing to pick up Mandarin as their language then they are qualify to guide the Chinese and the same goes to the foreigner, if they are willing to be trained by Department of Tourism and attend the Tour Guide Course then they are also qualify to be a Tour Guide in the island.

Perhaps is time for Department of Tourism to consider about doing a crash course for those foreigners who wish to be accredited by the Department. I also wish that Malay City Hall will review their rules and regulations in the days to come, set new standards for Tour Guiding in the island. If you want to be a Tour Guide in regardless of Nationality, you must be accredited by Department of Tourism and all foreigners are to secure a proper 9G Working Visa to work in the island. Being a Permanent Resident of the Philippines, I did my obligation by paying my Income Tax annually but how many Tour Guides are fulfilling their obligation to BIR?

The tourism industry are booming in the island, there are going to be more direct flights to Kalibo Airport and we can expect more tourists in the island. The government are doing their best to market the Philippines and the Officials of Malay City Hall are also doing their best to market Boracay Island. We need to uphold the standards of tourism in the island and continue to maintain Boracay Island as one of the best beaches & islands in the world. Is more fun in the Philippines but is even more fun in Boracay Island!

Mabuhay...

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