Badian tour guide penalized over misbehavior

Local

A LOCAL tour guide operating in Badian, Cebu faced disciplinary action after allegedly displaying inappropriate behavior toward a foreign tourist.

The incident happened last month when an American national and vlogger named Cameron, or @cameronyme on YouTube, uploaded a video of his exploration in Badian.

“Making my way through the Philippines! Today I go canyoneering on the island of Cebu where I am paired with a great guide and we have an amazing time through the breathtaking canyon! Enjoy this one, it’s crazy!” Cameron captioned in his YouTube video uploaded in August this year.

A Filipino follower of the vlogger secured a clip of the video where the misbehavior of the tour guide toward the visitor was caught on camera.

The tour guide was caught saying offensive words like “hambugero” toward the foreigner, without the tourist knowing or understanding it.

The follower reposted it on Facebook and called out the tour guide. It went viral, garnering at least 1,000 reactions and over 300 shares, as of press time.

The incident reached the Badian Tourism Office, prompting it to impose a one-month suspension on the tour guide.

“The Municipal Government of Badian does not tolerate any act that violates our local ordinances, tourism regulations, and established safety standards,” the Badian Tourism Office said in a statement.

Badian Tourism Officer Earl Vincent Endab said that aside from the one-month suspension, the tour guide has to pay a P1,000 suspension fee and will undergo community service.

The tour guide also made a public apology and admitted his improper behavior through his social media account.

Endab said that after the suspension, the tour guide will report to the tourism office, where he will be refreshed and reoriented on the local canyoneering ordinance in Badian to remind him of the proper and professional way of handling tourists.

Endab said this is not the first time they have received complaints against their local tour guides, but they usually receive these in person or from guests who directly report them to the office.

He urged the public and guests not to hesitate to report any misbehavior or unprofessional treatment by their tour guides or other tourism stakeholders.

“To our tourists, we are doing our best in the government, especially in Badian Tourism, kay kining panghitabo man gud, (although) trained sila sa DOT (Department of Tourism), but dili man gud nato mausab ang batasan sa usa ka tawo, maong patabang lang mi pud sa mga tourists, mga guests kung naa silay makita nga sayop sa mga guides or other stakeholders, pwde gyud sila direct mo report sa office” Endab said.

“Mo-recognize pud mi og sayop kay makaapekto siya sa atong industry, especially sa Badian kay mao na siyay panginabuhian sa mga taga Badian” he added.

Badian is a town in southern Cebu known for its extreme canyoneering activity and Kawasan Falls.(MyTVCebu)