BASCO, Batanes (PIA) - - Tourist van and cogon drivers in this island province will soon be tour guides themselves after they were trained by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Regional Office No. 2.

DOT Regional Director Fanibeth Domingo said a total of 32 drivers graduated from the Tourist Drivers Seminar conducted from June 14 to 16, 2022.

Domingo said the three-day seminar aimed to develop and expand the role of tourist drivers as tour guides and ambassadors for tourists visiting the province of Batanes.

During the training, the drivers were enlightened on the nature and benefits derived from tourism, taught on how to deal with local and foreign tourists and got acquainted with the local culture and history of the province including its tourism destinations.

The training was facilitated by DOT - accredited trainers to include Yael T. Fernandez on Tour Guiding Techniques and Filipino Brand of Service Excellence and Nardo Y. Naguiat on Correct Driving Techniques. Romeo Caranguian, senior tourism operations officer, and gender and development focal person of DOT-2 shared the salient points on Child Protection in Tourism.

Domingo has encouraged the participants to organize their associations for more training opportunities especially now that the province has reopened its doors for limited  tourism activities.

The tourism department official has recognized the vital roles of tourist drivers in the tourism industry as they represent the transportation sector who make travel safe for tourist.

"Training is indispensable as this ensures compliance to standards of service excellence as the Department of Tourism supports the provision of meaningful and satisfying experience for the tourists," Domingo added. (MDCT/With reports from DOT/PIA Cagayan)