Cebu tour guides get free insurance, kits

CEBU, Philippines — Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco distributed a meaningful Christmas gift to accredited tour guides in Cebu--a one-year insurance for them and some tour guiding essential items.

The Cebuana tourism chief met with the Cebu tour guides earlier this week at the Oakridge Executive Club together with DOT Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao and DOT-7 Regional Director Judy Gabato.

Frasco underscored the tour guides’ essential role in the Philippine tourism industry’s remarkable growth and success.

Speaking before an audience of around 70 tour guides, Frasco highlighted the tourism sector’s achievements, citing its ?3.36 trillion contribution to the economy, an 8.6% share of the GDP, and its role in providing employment to 6.21 million Filipinos.

Frasco also discussed her department’s advocacy for a broader measure of tourism employment through the Philippine Statistics Authority and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

She noted that tourism-related employment has reached over 16 million Filipinos—nearly 35% of the nation’s total employment for the first quarter of 2024 based on a recent labor force survey’s finding.

“These milestones are made possible by everyone who forms part of the tourism value chain,” Frasco said while also emphasizing that “it is only by having this wide view of tourism that we can truly honor those that contribute to its success.”

And in recognition to the tour guides for all their efforts in welcoming tourists and inspiring those from abroad to return to the Philippines, Frasco gave them some tour guiding essentials.

Each kit given to the tour guides includes sunblock, sunglasses, a hat, an electronic lapel with speaker, and tumbler.

“As we celebrate the gains of tourism in the Philippines, we must honor the unsung heroes of this industry—our tour guides….Tour guides are our storytellers, ambassadors of our culture, guardians of our heritage, and the heart and soul of the Philippine tourism experience,” said Frasco.

More to it, the tour guides were provided personal accident insurance worth P50,000. According to DOT, this is funded directly from Frasco’s personal account.

“We continue to express our heartfelt gratitude to our tour guides all over the Philippines by providing tour guide kits and personal accident insurance…In Cebu, we distributed tour guide kits to members of the Cebu Association of Tour Guides (CAT-G) and Frontliners, Academe, and Guides Guild (FLAGG) to honor their dedication to enhancing Philippine tourism,” Frasco added.

Mary Grace Melendes, Vice President of CAT-G and a pioneer guide of Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, expressed her heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the tour guides.

“Grabe ang among ka-proud. This is my chance and opportunity to say thank you for all the good things that you have done to our country. And ang imong pagmahal nga imong gihatag sa tibuok Pilipinas just for two years, grabe ang naabot sa Department of Tourism,” Melendes said.

Melendes, a tour guide for 25 years, also noted that this is the first time that a Secretary reached out to all the tour guides in the Philippines. (CEBU NEWS)