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.
