DOT promotes ‘surfing’ as major tourism product

The Department of Tourism (DOT) wants to groom the local surf industry as a more sellable and more developed tourism product, a move that involves the implementation of two-far-reaching programs.

A statement showed on Friday that the Tourism Department wants to require accreditation to resorts, facilities, and camps whose offerings include surfing as well as international certification for surfing instructors.

This, according to the agency, will professionalize the local surf industry at the same time provide more job opportunities to the coastal and surfing communities.

The DOT said it calls for the classification and accreditation of resorts, surf camps or other facilities that provide surfing lessons to clients.

"Accreditation of such will require these training facilities to retain certified surfing instructors to teach or supervise the teaching of their students. It will also require them to have the essential teaching equipment and gear, such as soft training surfboards and rash guards; adequate spaces for class lessons, lockers, toilets and showers," the DOT said.

"Very important, they must have emergency rescue and crisis response capabilities including first-aid kits and communications equipment for handling urgent conditions," it added.

As of now, a National Criteria for the certification and classification of surf training facilities has been completed and subjected to public consultation.

According to DOT, the criteria is now undergoing final refinement.

The DOT also said that another vital component of this product development program is the upgrading of local coaches to bring them to the level of internationally certified professional surfing instructors and place them at par with the world’s best surfing coaches.

To be certified, an instructor must undergo an intensive Surfing Instructors Certification Course.

For this project, the DOT has partnered with Australia’s Academy of Surfing Instructors (ASI) and its local chapter, the Academy of Surfing Instructors Philippines (ASIP).

ASI, the world’s leading professional education, certification and accreditation standard for these, will execute all ASI functions, such as conducting instructor certification courses in the Philippines under strict ASI supervision.

So far, the DOT said that some 50 surfing instructors have already received their ASI Level 1 certification and 15 more from Mati, Davao Oriental will soon join their ranks. At least two more runs are scheduled for this year: one in Baler, Aurora and another in Zambales, and these are expected to produce 50 more ASI Level 1 Certified instructors.