OFWs eyed as perfect Philippine tour guides

The Department of Tourism (DOT) reiterates its call to OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) to venture into tour guiding business in the Philippines.

DOT undersecretary Alma Rita D. Jimenez said that OFWs, who are already fluent in speaking conversational English and are already familiar with some foreign markets, are the best tour guides for the growing Philippine tourism business.

Also, Filipinos working in non-English speaking countries can communicate and connect well with the tourists.

Jimenez, who was in Cebu recently said that one of the convergence programs which will surface soon, is the signing of an agreement between the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the DOT for the mutual promotion of tourism products.

Part of the plan is also to involve the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for the capacity building of non-English speaking tour guides.

Instead of training tour guides in various languages, such as Chinese and Japanese, the official said the DOT would hire returning OFWs and capacitate them as tour guides.

She said it is harder for DOT to teach language training, but OFWs have the edge because they already have conversational ability to speak the languages of their host countries.

Jimenez earlier said the DOT is considering to take part in the reintegration program of DOLE for returning OFWs and develop them into tour guides once back in the Philippines

DOT and DOLE would convene all returning OFWs who can speak languages other than English and Filipino and are interested to have a career in the industry.

As some Filipinos continue to seek greener pastures abroad, it may seem as if the decades-long "brain drain" shows no signs of stopping.

But there's still hope for the Philippines in reversing "brain drain" according to the Economic Insight report, Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

It noted that ASEAN economies are benefiting from growing populations, but some, particularly the Philippines and Malaysia, are facing difficulty in "brain drain."