LINGAYEN- Believe it or not, there has always been and still only one government-licensed tourist guide serving the province’s tourism industry.

Reynaldo Livara, 26, is the only known holder of a professional tourism guide license that lends to his credentials in his work in his hometown, Alaminos City, site of the world-famous Hundred Islands National Park.

Livera, park manager of the Hundred Islands, said there is an urgent need for more professional guides in the province given the growing number of tourists’ arrivals in the province.

“Tourists are assured of correct information when assisted by licensed tour guides who have studied and been trained for the job,” he said.

Tourist arrival at the Hundred Islands has been steadily increasing, from 100,000 in 2004 to more than 150,000 in 2007. This year, according to Livera, the number of arrivals has been surpassing the month-on-month numbers from last year.

Livera said aside from the Hundred Islands, the province has many promising tourist attractions such as the historic Lingayen; the pristine beaches in Bolinao and Dasol; the forest park Manleluag Spring National Park in Mangatarem; shrines of the miraculous Our Lady of Manaoag and Senor Divino Tesoro in Calasiao town; Umbrella Rocks in Agno; beautiful beaches with colorful marine life from San Fabian to Infanta, the caves in Mabini town, among others.

He encouraged college graduates of any degree who are waiting to land permanent jobs to train and work initially as licensed tour guides because it is “enjoyable, educational and challenging.”

TRAINING COURSE

Meanwhile, to address the dearth of professional tourist guides, the provincial government through the Tourism Operations Division and Department of  Tourism Region I will conduct a 10-day Professional Tour Guiding seminar and one day practicum for trainees starting on July 23 at the mezzanine room of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority in Lingayen.

Registration for the seminar will be on a first come-first served basis targeting 40 participants, particularly local government unit tourism officers/representatives, Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) and Tourism students /graduates, community leaders, and out-of-school youth.

Luisa Elduayan, chief tourism operations officer of the province, said the training program seeks to establish a pool of about 43licensed tour guides to provide tour guiding and escorting assistance.

For inquiries and reservation on this seminar, applicants may get in touch with Maika Labaupa or Leo Jun Jugo at (075) 542-6853 or email at tourism-pangasinan@yahoo.com.#

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