Grab gagawing tourist guide, pinalagan

MANILA, Philippines — Isang maling hakbang ang ginawang pakikipag-partner ng Department of Tourism sa ride-hailing app Grab Philippines.

Ayon kay Aileen Clemente, presidente ng Rajah Travel Corp., unfair para sa mga accredited tourist transport companies at tour guide ang ginawa ng DOT nang makipag-partner sa Grab Philippines.

“I really feel this is a big mistake, especially considering that the DOT mentioned they conducted a one-day training [with Grab drivers] on the Filipino brand of service excellence (FBSE) and they will be tour-guiding already. The current accredited tour guides train for more than just a day and know how to curate tours. How can we expect that from a one-day training on the FBSE?” pahayag ni Clemente.

“These Grab drivers are not accredited tourist transport drivers—such drivers undergo strict standards for that. They don’t even drive DOT-accredited transportation. This will not sit very well with accredited tour guides and tourist transport drivers whose job will be taken over just like that,” dagdag ni Clemente.

Sa ilalim ng GrabTours Manila project, maaring makapag-book ang isang pasahero sa 5-hour tour sa major destinations sa Manila sa pamamagitan ng Grab.

“The drivers, who will also undergo briefing on the tourist sites, will double as tour guides during the trip,” picking up and dropping off the tourists at their hotels.,” ayon sa DOT.