Deaf tourists can now tour the Philippines with ease.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) of the Philippines said on Wednesday that it is training deaf tour guides who can show around tourists who have impaired hearing.
So far, Philippine Tourism Secretary Bernadette Puyat said the DOT has accredited at least 13 deaf tour guides. More deaf tour guides will be trained in the coming weeks, she added.
“Having tour guides skilled with knowledge of sign language and an understanding of the services needed by persons with disabilities (PWDs) is a must under the DOT’s thrust for barrier-free tourism. Not only will this provide quality service to tourists with special needs, but more importantly, this will create opportunities, which are the very essence of an inclusive tourism industry,” Puyat said in a statement.
The first assignment of the 13 accredited tour guides was to shepherd 30 students from the Philippine School for the Deaf (PSD) to Metro Manila’s historical spots, including Rizal Park, National Museum, and Fort Santiago.
Earlier this year, the DOT initiated an inter-agency consultation to address the facilities and infrastructure lacking in the country’s tourism establishments.
Source: Xinhua
