“The key to success in tourism destinations is to strengthen the participation and involvement of the community”, the School of International Hospitality and Tourism Management (SIHTM) believes as it implements its extension programs for its partner community, Barangay Alapang in La Trinidad, Benguet. This initiated the conduct of the series of extension service activities which were provided by SIHTM through a webinar last October 21, 2022, held via Zoom and a seminar last April 23, 2023, at the barangay hall of Alapang.
To continuously upgrade the competence of the service providers in the barangay such as the farm or garden owners, staff, officials, and other community stakeholders, SIHTM held a webinar last October 21, 2022, on guest service with the theme “Certified Guest Service Professionals: Building a Community of Excellent Guest Service Providers”. The webinar aimed to help the community stakeholders by equipping and preparing them to upgrade the quality of service they provide to their visitors which can lead to a probable increase in return visits and visitor loyalty.
Speaking virtually to the constituents of Barangay Alapang, esteemed mentors of the champions, Ms. Joan Florague and Ms. Roeanne Mylene Yango shared their expertise on “Golden Opportunities: Cultivating Guest Service in a Better Normal” and “Strengthening Virtual Connections through Excellent Guest Service” respectively.
The next semester, last April 23, 2023, SIHTM faculty members and staff visited Barangay Alapang where the seminar on visitor management and local tour guiding with the theme “Visitor Management: Strengthening Community Involvement in Tourism Development” transpired. Ms. Joanna Marie Victorio, the program chair for BSTM-IT, emphasized during her talk on “Visitor Management Techniques for Tourism Destinations” that visitor management plays an essential role in protecting the ecological sustainability of protected areas providing funding and business opportunities and enabling visitors to obtain worthwhile experiences from their visit. Meanwhile, Ms. Leah Mae Gabudao inspired the residents of Barangay Alapang on the essence of understanding how to be a local tour guide as this may help the residents and farm owners to create positive impacts on the destinations and promote an understanding of their local culture.
As service providers and owners of their own farms and parks, both activities are expected to help the barangay’s stakeholders in improving safety at their workplace, ensure they have control over who enters the premises, and make a good and professional impression on visitors.
SIHTM’s journey in providing extension services to its partner community, Brgy. Alapang continues as it reaches Phase 3 – the implementation of programs. The activities are organized through the leadership of Ms. Jessel Joy Sangdaan, SIHTM’s Extension, and Community Outreach Services (ECOS) coordinator.
The partnership with the barangay is due to the desire to sustain UB-SIHTM’s active role in the community in providing sustainable programs that will uplift the practices and the people’s quality of life. Similarly, the activities are manifestations of the School’s support for the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #17, Partnerships for the Goals.
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