What it takes to become a good Tour Guide

Summary of Interview Information

Future tour guides try to gather as many information regarding their future responsibilities... In Camiguin, they found out that there are no licensed tour guides except for PADI Divers during the interview.

QUESTIONS:

1. Are you a licensed tour guide…?
 I’m not aware.
 I’m a member of PRRM.
 Nope. I’m aware of the licensing but the guest never asks if you are a licensed as long as they trust me.
 No, but we are accredited by PRRM as local tour guide.
 Permit from DOT.
 Padi Australia.
 The DENR through the PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT BOARD (PAMB) is on the process of accrediting the tour guide in the protected area only.
 The DOT is planning to have a seminar not as a tourist guide but a tour escort.
 Because 98 percent of the people are poor and beyond to spend money for requirements.
 Because of financial problem.
 As I’ve heard, you have to take the examination for acquiring a license for tour guiding.

2. What is your concept about tour guide?
 A tour guide is an individual who, either as an employee or an affiliate of a licensed tour operator, accompanies tourists, both foreign and domestic for a payment or commission or any form of lawful information, will site seeing excursion, to provide pertinent commentaries and look after their general well-being.
 Must be serve idealistic to the tourists responsible for their security and satisfaction.
 Is a person who is responsible to introduce and show to the tourist the real beauty and what was in a certain place.
 Somebody who has the capacity to guide someone who wishes to explore the place.
 Facilitate well the tourist.
 Knows the under bouts of the destination.
 A tour guide is responsible in handling a tour during the tour duration.
 A tour guide should know everything the place offers. From the word “guide” itself he keep the visitors at the right track.
 Obtaining a high quality of profession.
 A tourist assistant towards tourism promotion of the island
 Composite.
 Specialized in underwater tour guide.
 To convince them that Camiguin is one of the greatest tour islands.
 Introducing the tourist spot of Camiguin Island.
 A tour guide is someone who is knowledgeable and reliable when it comes to matter about tourism on tourist destination resources, landmarks and some important information in a particular area.
 For me, tour guide is the one who conducts trip for the guests.

3. What is your rewarding experience as a tour guide?
 I was able to achieve certain knowledge in handling a tour, I meet new faces, personalities; gain new friends and acquire new techniques.
 When I saw and felt how happy they are seeing and reaching places they really want to proud to be there.
 When a tourist an 81 woman ask me to tour with him, from British Colombia, Canada. She was so kind that she even help me when my father was admitted in CDO and not only financial but also emotional support. She never forgets me after the tour and considers me as her granddaughter.
 My guest said that they had a lot of fun with me.
 There was a time when one of the tourists left his camera, I return it to him.
 I develop my skill in guiding guests.
 When sometimes a guest gives a thank you card with money in it but I return the money to them, the payment they give me was enough for me.
 Experiencing reward is the word “thank you”.
 When we have a guest from UP and I render my service double time, we did some activity like dolphin watching and squid catching which she made a documentary video of it.
 They say “thank you”.
 When Magandang Gabi Bayan (MGB) interviewed me.
 I travel a lot of places.
 Gaining friends and I learn more dialects.
 Through tour guiding, I meet and gain lots of friends, local and international.
 They appreciate how the way I entertain and to show them the best thing in underwater.
 During Lanzones festival when I guided a foreigner to tour the island.
 They give me souvenirs like t-shirt and money.
 Being a tourist guide of the visitors from “Swift Travel and Tour” was considered as my most rewarding experience. A two-day island tour overwhelmed the guests, and a compliment for me when they were recommending me as a tour guide to their colleagues and friends next time when they come back.
 The most rewarding experience is I had an extra income and I learned some foreign language.

4. How do you conduct your tours in terms of preparation, planning and actual job assignment?
 Propose an itinerary in which the tourist approved.
 Prepare yourself.
 My first time I become a tour guide is at Philcar Company, that was not planned that I’ll be a tourguide nor I am prepared, my classmate just directly appoint me and that’s it, I don’t refuse the offer. It’s on the spot planning system.
 It’s the agency of PRRM who prepares all the preparation and we only follow the chairman who will designate the guide in different areas.
 Briefing, always ready and presence of mind
 I scheduled my time and places to go.
 I gather information about my client.
 I plan every detail from the transportation, to the accommodation of the tourist.
 Giving instruction and information about the terrain and giving off maps and other safety method and stuffs for survival.
 I gave brochures.
 I coordinate with PRRM.
 Select a site to visit and adequate rest for the activity.
 Orient the guests about the tour and always ready to whatever the events.
 I conduct my tours I terms of preparation by knowing who were the guests, where does they came from and prepare an itinerary.
 You should be prepare know what is the purpose of your client in visiting the place to have an idea what kind of activity you arrange.
 I prepare an itinerary of travel and I make sure that it will be followed accordingly.
 Making an itinerary properly and the materials needed in the actual job.
 Assurance of map accuracy, travel, advisory and safety.
 My tours are in matter of unexpected happenings and transaction, a quick thinking on the knowledge of the island would be the feasible option that I could get into.
 Briefing first before leaving and prepare the equipment including first aid kit, and to tell them to follow the local law, proper way to garbage disposal.
 Telling them first about Camiguin and all information.
 By making an abstract or a summary/itinerary of the tour so that every big or little plan will be carried out.
 By preparing some materials needed.
 I especially conduct with time management and familiarity of the place.

5. What is your understanding of Ecotourism?
 Ecotourism is travel to fragile, pristine and usually protected areas that strives to be low-impact and usually small scale. It helps educate traveler, provides funds for conservation, direct benefits the economic development and political empowerment of the local communities and posters respect for different cultures and human rights.
 It is an ecological area, which is needed to improve or maintain the beauty of nature in order to attract tourist.
 I was involve in eco-tourism activities like climbing, it makes you physically fit, it maybe dangerous and I don’t let the tourist to get flora species in the mountain.
 Having fun with the place you visited and enhancing and protecting its integrity toward sustainability
 It’s not only about the spots of a certain place but it also covers the beauty and natural things in it.
 Combination of travel, cultural exploration, adventure and nature appreciation
 Promoting the lust diversity of nature, its benefits and contribution.
 I want to suggest to have seminars.
 Relation among all living things.
 It’s all about the beauty of nature that we must love and preserve for us to enjoy and also for the next generation.
 Ecotourism is the cultural exploration and nature’s appreciation.
 Is maybe socialistic and natural.
 We conduct info. Drive on beach cleanup, floating cottage, its benefits we rest with our family while fishing. But its disadvantage is that it will not last long because of typhoon at it was being use as dating place of teenagers. My suggestion is to have an open forum of the community regarding the policies and code ethics.

6. What is the best feature of Camiguin Island?
 The island had it all. From cold springs, hot springs, beaches, adventures, historic sites, etc…
 Everything, which everyone can unwind.
 The warm welcome of the residents.
 White island because it’s peaceful and breathtaking.
 Its distinct culture and the people.
 Rich biodiversity and a composite ecosystem, with abundant forest coastal resources.
 The people were very different from the other places.
 People are respectful and a lots of spots.
 Old volcano and sunken cemetery and unique diversities.
 Complete beauties of nature and hospitable people.
 Camiguin eco-tour destinations are just so natural, environmentally friendly.
 The white sand, waterfalls, springs, volcanoes, and the hospitality of the people. But one thing that makes Camiguin special is, its Ardent Hot Spring from its name alone it means warmness where visitors are welcomed to stay, full comfortable and relax with the hot water, the resort can surely offer.
 The best feature of Camiguin is the springs, which is the bounty of nature, and it’s free from pollution.
 Peace and order.
 Very scenic.
 Good entertainer and good tour guide.
 Peace and order blend with tourist spots.
 White sand and Mantigue Island.
 Relaxing beauty of nature.
 Nature and not man-made views.
 Quite and safe place.
 Nature and people.
 Mt. Hibok-hibok.

7. What do you consider responsible tourism?
 Keep an eye on possible destruction, by being a watchdog of the environment in my own little way and putting away eyesores for tourist in the environment.
 Preserving one’s culture.
 Strict compliance on garbage disposal.
 Visiting a place without harming it, through environmental awareness.
 It is an advocate concerning the good of everybody involving its environment.
 Concern of the environment and its resources that will benefit the whole.
 Helping the environment to prosper instead of harming it.
 Preserving Mother Earth, I can best support this kind of endeavor by simply keeping myself the best tour guide as I can be.
 Eco-awareness, promoting responsible views.
 I consider responsible tourism by maintaining the cleanliness of our environment.
 Help in maintaining the environment, our nature for the next generation to come.
 Responsible tourism means being able to preserve the human nature, mother earth has given at the same time nurture it can give, by simply keeping the best tour guide as I can be, would support this kind of endeavor.
 Responsible tourism is by conserving the nature and protects the biodiversity areas.
 The basic concern is the environment and preservation of the ecosystem.
 Factual and best dealings to foreigners.

8. What do you consider environmentally sound eco-tourism practices?
 Tree planting, conducting “PAHINA”
 Whale watching.
 By preserving all living and non-living things in the tourist spot like Kebila white beach.
 Tourist spot improvement without destroying its natural beauty.
 Clean and green drive, coastal clean up drive and reforestation.
 Forest restoration.
 Ill catching whales watching at Alangilan.
 Preserving our native culture.
 Waste management through policy implementation of such policy that controls and prevent the accumulation of waste in the island.
 Without destruction of nature.
 When having a trek, spare a time in planting a tree alongside.
 Eco-track and salvage the earth adventure, nothing yet but climbing mount Hibok-hibok would do.
 Making use of environmental friendly equipment during the tour like for instance, using banana leaves instead of Styrofoam.

9. How do we make Camiguin Eco-tourism friendly?
 Mountains must have a visible trail route, rest area or sheds.
 Avoid cutting of trees, segregation of all the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste.
 For me, I’m not particular of improvements; “simplicity is beauty,” I’ll say.
 Their must be exact trail road, cottage, comfort room or dressing room
 Protect all the endemic resources.
 Clean your surrounding and participate in any eco-tourism activities.
 Tourist awareness on nature and its diversity.
 All the springs must be made with large pools and more cottages to accommodate large number of tourist.
 I suggest to have more Homestay aside of what we have now 7 registered Homestay.
 Concrete roads to Katibawasan falls.
 Tree planting and concrete road to Soda water in Bora, Catarman.
 Homestay programs; let tourist experience a simple living with just nature and community.
 Serving tourist with just basics and not like of modern times gadgets to promote healthier living
 To have brochures about the sunken cemetery about its history.
 Local’s awareness on nature’s great diversity.
 State laws that would provide greater protection on nature and imposed it in the rightful way.
 Proper implementation of policy.
 Camiguin people just help and unite in extradicating illegal acts on nature.
 Camiguin high land resort and Kebila beach to provide or improve its Brgy. Road.

10. What important guidelines or TIPS would you give to aspiring future tour guide like you?
 Preserved our nature, respect the guest and we should honest with them.
 A sense of responsibility and know how to handle problems with the guests and complaints.
 Be responsible.
 Being a tour guide is not an easy job, even if they provoke your anger just still pretend to be happy-that’s the saddest part. You must also be prepared in answering lots of question about the history, culture, flora and fauna of the place and everything bout the area.
 Be ready physically, emotionally, spiritually and psychology.
 Act like a professional. Believe in yourself, “kaya ko to”.
 Honesty.
 Must be informative, flexible, smart and patient.
 Love your environment.
 Love your job.
 Attend seminars, avoid shamefulness, talk unless it is needed.
 Always be with yourself.
 Be researchful for the legend of Camiguin and should be detailed.
 Be versatile accept suggestions.
 Be natural; acquire knowledge relevant to this type of job.
 Make them comfortable with you.
 Organize the entire schedule.
 Be calm.
 Be fluent in English.
 Always think that you’re the tour guide and you’re responsible for everything to happen, careful take it easy just relax.
 Have a good moral character and be a responsible tour guide.
 Tackle a responsibility.
 Develop good communication skills. You must be dedicated and responsible.
 Give the best guide to your guest, comfort and satisfaction.
 Be considerate, responsible and always make sure of their safety, as you are reliable to any lost or damages that might happen. Make sure you are well equipped with every single information a client will possibly ask.
 I just say that you should always understand and value guest’s cultures and respect them, wear a smile.
 You should have an adequate knowledge about the place, proper communication skills
 Learn more, travel more, experience more and be open-minded.
 Inform tourist about nature compare nature to them selves and also us for them to be able to have a great camaraderie with nature.



11. Would you be willing to participate in a eco-tourism free tour guide orientation by CPSC as the first college in the country to offer eco-tourism course?
 I have no time.
 Yes I am willing to participate.
 Of course I’m willing.
 If I have time.
 No enough time, I’m not always around the island.

12. As a participating tour guide, what kind of training and seminars have you attended and what would you think is very essential to improve your skills and professionalize your job?
 Past trainings are:
1. First Aid Training at PNRC Camiguin Chapter
2. Basic Life Support (CPR) Health Care Provider.
3. BLS-CPR Instructors Training.
4. First Aide Instructors Training.
5. Rope Rescue Technician Level-1.
6. Emerging Medical Technician.
7. Disaster Management Standard Training.
8. Water Safety and Rescue Training.
9. Regional Disaster Response Training.
10. Abbreviated Training for Disseminators of International Humanitarian Law.
 I don’t have any training.
 I attended a 3 days seminars and it was great but it was not credited by DOT.
 MABUHAY host.
 I attended hard and soft training, tent lay outing and tour guiding techniques.
 I attended Participatory Rapid Appraisal, Community Eco-Development and Financial Management and Organizational Development Tourism, Interpretative Tour Guiding Technique seminars
 I attended RED CROSS seminar of DILG

13. Type your activities you organized for tourist.
 Swimming, diving. Trekking and tree planting, coastal clean-up
 Photography, sight seeing. Risk free travel.
 Educational tour and resort hopping.
 Mountain climbing.

14. What are your indicators of quality service and costumer satisfaction?
 They come back and impressed.
 Their facial reaction.
 I receives rewards.
 I assure to my guest that will be enjoy and happy all the time their with me.
 Affirmative response.
 Growing numbers of tourists who visit and revisit Camiguin yearly, only proves that tourists satisfies.
 They keep coming back and want my service.
 I saw that they are happy, smiling and they interact with my discussion.
 When they always say thank you and give me a tip and they come back.
 They will thank you with all your heart and sometimes they will give you payment more than you expected, they also ask where do you live, what’s my contact number and if they can still call me if they want to come back.
 They invite me to eat and drink with them.
 Through a positive response from the client.
 They were very much pleased and rather would hold their feet for a longer comradeship with the spots.
 Try your best to answer their question, give their needs if possible. You will know if the guest enjoyed your company because you can feel that they are with you.
 I asked them about the tour and they were so glad
 Concern about their needs and attention, be helpful and be professional, most of the tourist I guided were very frank. They give me extra and they invited me to eat with them.
 Recognition of the tour.
 They gave away gifts and additional payment.
 Through positive response and they keep coming back and bring new guests.
 I’m not boastful and modesty aside, I have a sense of humor and patient in everything and my smile. I trust God so that I can please my guest and everything is gonna be alright.
 I bring them to wonderful scenery of the island and they promise to return and to come back.
 When the delighted with the effort I extended with them and when they decided to come back.

15. What is your specialties and x-factor as a tour guide that makes you interestingly different from the rest?
 My smile and humor.
 Beauty.
 True to myself.
 I can speak Visayan, Tagalog, English, and (Baribari) Sinagay.
 I’m very energetic.
 Making tourist more comfortable and aware of the island’s biodiversity, history and roles as a living wonder of the world, also on how could nature be essential to the inhabitants of the island.
 Honesty and simple jokes that makes them laugh.
 My used to laugh when they here my language.
 I’m witty.
 I handle customers concern.
 I consider my guests as a long time no see relatives.
 Accommodating and organized.
 Approachable.
 Sense of humor.
 Being myself.
 I offer special treatment to the guest.
 I’m bubbly and I have a sense of humor that eases the tiredness and bored of my guests.
 I entertain guests and give them some information and cultures and tradition of a certain place.
 Open-minded.
 Jokes and being talkative.
 I’m calm accommodating and friendly.
 Special treatment and comfortable bedding.
 Camouflage attitude.
 Friendly and hospitable.
 I am versatile and I’m willing to accept suggestions and I’m fun.
 I’m knowledgeable about the area.
 I can speak well English and Spanish.
 Being humble.