COMPREHENSIVE TOURISM PROGRAM
- TOUR GUIDES – creation of a Tour Guide Association by the Municipal Tourism office
- Identification of possible tour guides – such will be composed of barangay officials, out of school youths, volunteers, etc.
- Training Workshop for Tour Guides – organized by the Municipal Tourism Office in coordination with a private entity or the Department of Tourism. The workshop will include training on tour guiding, briefing and orientation of places to be visited, first aid, simulated tour of places to be visited, and accreditation of these guides by provision of ID’s and certificates.
- Provision of Information Kits for Tour Guides – that will contain information about the sites to be visited and names and contact numbers of local leaders.
- Determination and Establishment of Tour Guide Fees – to give remuneration to services rendered by guides and to encourage others to join tour guiding team.
2. ACCOMMODATION
- Construction of a Barangay Cottage – (nipa hut with kitchen and restroom, and with the provision of mosquito nets) – for the time being that the proposed pavilion and resort are not yet available, barangay huts that depicts a humble rural shelter can be a charming accommodation for guests and visitors. This can be made by the barangay officials through dagyaw and bayanihan. Tourists, especially foreigners, who go on an eco-tourism adventure, do not demand first class amenities. Instead, they would want to experience rural life in an unassuming setting.
This cottage will be for rent at a determined rate and will be maintained by the barangay council.
- Tents – provision of tents by the Municipal Tourism Office for Rent. Ideal camp sites are those that are near water sources.
- Adopt Tourist Program – The municipal tourism council with the assistance of the barangay council has to identify ideal households that can accommodate a number of tourists and guests. Uplifting of comfort rooms and bathrooms of these households can be given assistance by the municipality. Sanitation should be a very important factor to consider in the accommodation of guests.
These households are also encouraged to offer meals for sale (local delicacies should be showcased to visitors)
Determined rentals for these households should be taken by the tour guide. He tour guide will in turn ensure that 80% of this will go to the accommodating household and 20% shall be given to the municipality. Receipts should be issued for these transactions.
- SECURITY MEASURES
- Barangay Tanods should be at the vicinity in case of tourist arrivals to ensure their safety. The Tanods should, however, maintain a little distance from the tourist themselves to maintain tourist privacy.
- Frequent arrival of tourist and their big numbers, foreigners, prominent people, businessmen and politicians are usual targets of robberies, kidnappings and other threats. An army or a PNP detachment is recommended in strategic areas.
- It is necessary that barangays should have complete first aid facility in case of emergencies. Ideally, there should be trained first aiders, rescuers and lifeguards in every barangay that has a tourist site.
- FOOD AND SOUVENIRS – This would augment the income of the local folks especially women of the community.
- Barangays and its residents are encouraged to put up kiosk that would sell food, mineral water, drinks, souvenir items and local products.
- Local delicacies are the most attractive to tourist. The barangay has to ensure, however, that food preparations are clean and sanitary.
- The municipality has to identify and train potential and existing craftsmen in making souvenir items, like baskets, necklace, T-shirt, which carries the identity of his municipality.
- WASTE MANAGEMENT – Along with tourists come their wastes. Hence, the municipality should come up with a Waste Management Program to ensure cleanliness and maintain the ecology of the tourist sites. Waste segregation practice is one of the most doable
- Tour Guides are recommended to undergo training on waste management. This waste management should be consciously practiced during tour guiding.
- Tourists should be made conscious of cleanliness by providing gentle reminders in the form of billboards in strategic places of the tourism sites.
- Waste cans/baskets should be made available in strategic areas of the tourist sites.
DESTINATION SUGGESTIONS
ONE DAY ECO TOUR
A
- ( Municipal Tourism Office ) Photo Gallery
- Two Centuries Old Calachuchi
- Church and its ruins
- Hanging Bridge
- Korokot Hill
- Tubungan Nat’l High School
- Cross at Balabago
- Association of Disabled Persons
B
- ( Municipal Tourism Office ) Photo Gallery
- Two Centuries Old Calachuchi
- C hurch and its ruins
- Cross at Balabago
- Bato Sumpit
- Bato Simbahan
- Labay Falls
- Linaw Anton
C
- ( Municipal Tourism Office ) Photo Gallery
- Two Centuries Old Calachuchi
- Church and its ruins
- Cross at Balabago
- Bato Sumpit
- Bato Simbahan
- Labay Falls
- Tigmanagit
TWO DAYS TOUR
Day 1
- Municipal Tourism Office ( Photo Gallery )
- Two Centuries Old Calachuchi
- Church and its ruins
- Cross at Balabago
- Bato Sumpit
- Bato Simbahan ( Overnight )
- Labay Falls
Day 2
- Linaw Anton
- Bato Tariwis
- Labay Cave
- Tigmanagit
- Cross at Balabago
THREE DAYS TOUR
Day 1
- Municipal Tourism Office ( Photo Gallery )
- Two Centuries Old Calachuchi
- Church and its Ruins
- Tigmanagit
- Ningwan Falls
- Igbulo Rolling Hills- ( Overnight )
Day 2
- Iloilo Antique Boundary
- Rainforest Trekking
- Sampaw Bato- ( Overnight )
Day 3
- Labay Cave
- Bato Tariwis
- Linaw Anton
- Labay Falls
- Bato Simbahan
- Bato Sumpit
- Cross at Balabago