AVP for tour guiding set for release in December

CEBU, Philippines - Tourism stakeholders in Cebu, through the newly created “TEAM-Cebu” or Tourism Educators, Advocates and Movers-Cebu, have joined hands to release the country’s first Audio-Visual-Presentation (AVP) for Tour Guiding by December of this year.

Led by tourism consultant, Patria Aurora Roa and tourism advocate Milagros Espina, the AVP for tour guiding in Cebu has earned the support of different private sector players, as well as the Department of Tourism (DOT).

In an interview with Roa, she said that with the help of local TV production outfit RCTV, the project is expected to be officially released before the end of this year.

This will be the first of its kind AVP for Tour Guiding in the Philippines, that will showcase a brief description, and history of major landmarks in Cebu, providing tour guides’ convenience, as well as opportunity to earn.

 Although the first release will be in English version, Roa said the group will also touch base with different embassies to help them provide correct translations of the AVP, specifically Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French and German.

The production and updated script of the major landmarks, as well as the footage will be produced by RCTV through marketing expert Lyndon Angan.

“It’s good that the tourism private sector players in Cebu are supporting this project,” said Roa.

The first English version of the AVP, will be funded by tourism prime mover Bobby Lim Joseph, who initiated this project a few months back.

Joseph provided a seed money of P500 thousand to start off the project. Roa said the money given by Joseph is enough to fund the first tranche release of English version by December this year.

Team-Cebu will also meet up with the tour guides in Cebu, and will first select the best tour guides, who will be given this video, to be re-produced in DVD and flash drive forms, of which copies will be sold to tourists.

Joseph expressed confidence of Cebu’s huge potential to excel in tourism, more any other destinations in the Philippines. He said it is high time that the private sector will have to make initiatives and start helping the government by creating programs, and projects that will further push Cebu to its potential in tourism advantage.

With the approval of the DOT secretary on this project, Joseph is confident that more institutions will give its support in terms of funding the production of the improved Tour Guiding service in Cebu, which will be the first in the Philippines.

The creation of the AVP on Tour Guiding he said will put Cebu ahead of the other destinations in the Philippines, thereby sustaining its position as the “center for tourism” in the Philippines.

If this project works, he said other destinations in the country may follow suit, said Joseph who is also the chairman of Naitas.

Aside from providing easier work for tour guides, this AVP on Tour Guiding will also serve as reference for schools, specifically those that are offering tourism related courses, Joseph said. (FREEMAN)