The Department of Tourism (DOT), through the Office of Human Capital Development (OHCD), gathered some 400 tour guides from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao for a one-day summit in Cebu City last Sept. 17 to honor their unwavering support for the Philippine tourism industry.
Under the leadership of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, the DOT has highlighted the role of tour guides in shaping the industry. Tour guides are recognized as Philippine ambassadors who enhance visitor experience through exceptional stories and hospitality.
As of August 31, 2025, a total of 4,598 regional and community tour guides are accredited by the DOT. Of this number, the largest portion of DOT-accredited tour guides are in Central Visayas, accounting for a total of 2,020 tour guides.
The summit specifically aimed to create a national platform for tour guides, industry stakeholders, and policymakers to converge, collaborate, and discuss the future of tour guiding in the Philippines; upgrade tour guide services through professional development and enhanced standards, ensuring a consistently high-quality and enriching experience for tourists; and empower them with enhanced skills, knowledge, and resources, enabling them to deliver exceptional and enriching experiences that elevate the tourism sector.
“As frontliners of the tourism experience, tour guides are vital to our mission of fostering a deeper engagement with the Philippines, based on respect for our culture, fueled by our desire for tourism to foster national pride and community development,” Secretary Frasco said in her previous statement, emphasizing the role of tour guides in nation-building.
The first-ever summit will zero in on the theme “Love our Islands, Love our Stories.”
Secretary Frasco emphasized that upgrading tour guide service standards is essential to enhance tourist satisfaction, elevate the destination’s image, and ensure a consistently high-quality and professional tourism experience.
It was also under the helm of Secretary Frasco when tour guides received significant attention, especially in terms of providing them tour guiding essentials and personal accident insurance. As of August 2025, the beneficiaries account for a total of 1,129.
