The Department of Tourism and the City Tourism Office (CTO) on Friday gave a two-day seminar to train Dagupan’s tricycle drivers to work as tourist guides.
Martin Valera, director of the Ilocos region’s tourism office, welcomed the more than 30 participating tricycle drivers, personnel of the City Action Service Team (CAST) and the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) to the seminar held at the city museum.
Valera underscored the tricycle drivers’ important role in promoting the city’s tourism industry.
“I had a very sad experience about being charged exorbitantly on three occasions when I rode a tricycle here and I feel that this is not helping promote our tourism industry,” he recounted.
The two-day seminar aims to teach the participants how to develop their communication skills and their self-esteem, customer relations, effective customer service, the art of driving and driving decorum, as well as tourism trends.
City tourism officer Sharon Maramba said they will also orient them on the different places of interest in the city and the components of the city’s tourism industry, promotions and marketing.
As a bonus, the participants will be given lectures on gas and fuel maintenance and updates on the rules, fees and requirements of the Land Transportation Office for the registration of their tricycles.