RENEWAL OF TOUR GUIDE LICENCE

The following is an email to express my thought as a Tour Guide in Boracay Island but first thing first I would like thank Tatay Rey & Atty. Helen Catalbas of DOT Region VI in providing us the Tourists Arrival for 2012. For 2012, total arrival of Chinese & Taiwanese is 174,567 and Korean is 156,445. I would like mention these 2 markets since 90% of the tourists in these 2 markets do not speak English and totally rely on the assistance of tour guides in the island. Tour Guides for these 2 markets are Frontliners representing Philippines as a destination for fun and enjoyment. We are also representing Boracay Island as one of the best destination in the world and doing our best to represent well of the island.

When tourists arrived at Caticlan Ferry Terminal, this is the first place of impression after 11/2hrs of bus journey from Kalibo Airport. Tourists are observing and excited to travel to Boracay Island but tourists are asking why are there a group of Officers acting very rude in the terminal towards the Tour Guides. Well, we said they are the Malay Tourism Escorts checking on the ID of every Tour Guides to ensure everybody have renewed their license for 2013. Unfortunately, my ID was being confiscated by the Malay Tourism Escorts and the reason given to me was I haven't renew for 2013 and I was shown of the expiration date on the ID stated January 20. Well, I didn't want to create a scene especially in front of my tourists and surrender my ID but I am not going to rest this matter and would like share this negative experience with everybody and really hope Mayor John Yap may look into this matter.

The expiration of the ID stated January 20 but in the last 18 days, was it possible for us to renew our license as a Tour Guide? First week of January, the Barangay & Malay City Hall just resume office but they were busy preparing for the Ati -Atihan. To renew our Tour Guide License, we need to secure a Health Certificate that will take about 2 days to process and a Brgy. Clearance that will usually takes a week to process. After the Brgy. Clearance, we are then able to secure a Police Clearance that will take 3days to process. All these will take almost 3 weeks to process in normal working days and do you think we can meet the dateline of January 20??? Furthermore, we are not doing nothing in the island. We are also busy representing as a Tour Guide in making Boracay a place of enjoyment and fun, taking care of these non English speaking tourists. We act as their YaYa for 5days when they are in the island and we also have own stress to manage.

As a responsible citizen, I will surely abides to the rules and regulations set by the Malay City Hall even to stay in line for hours to secure a Barangay & Police Clearance to renew my licence. I am an Accredited Tour Guide by The Philippines Department of Tourism and to receive my Accreditation, I must have good standing with Malay City Hall. I just hope the expiration date of January 20 may be reviewed and give us grace period and enough time to renew our licence as Tour Guides. I also hope the Malay Tourism Escort may act with good manner especially in front of tourists to prevent in giving tourists a bad impression of service and attitude since you representing Malay City Hall. This will also affect the reputation of our lovely Mayor John Yap.

As Tour Guide in Boracay, we tried to represent well of the island so that we may continue to be the best island to visit in the world. We continue to make Boracay a place of enjoyment and fun, putting a smile on the face of every tourists when they arrive and depart Boracay Island. We will continue to increase the number of tourists in the island, we hope establishments will continue to give support to the Tour Guides especially Malay City Hall will assist us and give us a helping hand in making Boracay Island the best in the world. Is more fun in the Philippines but is even more fun in Boracay Island! May the Lord continue to bless the works of our hands!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN BORACAY

CROWN REGENCY HOTELS & RESORTS