MVA discusses tour guide certificate program

The Marianas Visitors Authority’s board of directors met last Thursday to discuss their enforcement responsibilities under Public Law 18-58, which in part requires the islands’ tourist operators and guides to be certified by MVA.

The board discussed ways to make sure guides taking visitors to tourist sites are certified, and discussed what it means to be a “freelance” tour guide, among other things.

A “working plan” of six months was set. This, according to MVA managing director Perry Tenorio, is the board’s recommended timeframe to officially start the certification program.

Right now, according to Tenorio, there is on the table a plan to have tour guides and operators complete 30 instructional hours for certification, with 20 hours of classroom instruction, and 10 hours of field instruction.

But “this is subject to change,” he said.

MVA has had discussions earlier with the Northern Marianas College on the matter. Tenorio said MVA is going to have to revisit the college and discuss specifics.

He pointed to Guam Visitor Bureau’s memorandum-of-understanding with Guam Community College for a similar tourist guide certification program as an example of an option.

Marian Aldan-Pierce, MVA’s board chairwoman, called for “true enforcement” of MVA rules and regulations during discussion.

Legal counsel Brad Huesman said MVA would have to decide on how to enforce this, with MVA either having to hire a third party or using its own staff.

Board director Chris Nelson said MVA already has a third party in place, at least for land operations, with security guards at major tourist sites.

Lau Lau Bay, Obyan Beach, Banzai Cliff, and the Grotto were discussed as some of the major tourist sites.

The board also discussed the “growing trend” of tour guides popping up all over island without necessarily coming from a company, or doing so legally.

Of these “freelance” guides, board director Jerry Tan brought up a real-life example of a Chinese chef with a valid contract worker permit as chef but saw a better opportunity as tour guide.

This is a “real story” he said. People will recognize there is more to be made as a tour guide, he said.

Nelson said in these cases he believes CW workers would have to get another a part-time permit to work as a tour guide.

Discussion centered on tour guides as “the frontlines” of the tourism industry here. Tan emphasized the importance of “quality over quantity.”

He said they could have 10 companies on island with capital, insurance, and good hiring practices versus 50 “mom and pop” companies all over the island, with 10 of them being good and the 40 bad.

“All it takes is a couple of bad tour guides” to affect the reputation of the island in the eyes of tourists, he said, and emphasized high standards in ensuring quality of tour operations moving forward.

Nelson said the certification program could be “turned into something positive.”

He said the badges guides will have to wear can be seen as a “badge of honor” and a guide can see a certificate to mean that their “level has upped” and that it may bring better wages.

He said younger folk or the unemployed might pay to get through the program.

The certificate would require guides to have a minimal proficiency in English, and have knowledge of the history, culture, and scenic attractions in the CNMI, according to the law.

Aldan reminded the board that the educational component should focus more on “the service level” as well as safety aspects of being a tour guide.

She said the board has to “remind themselves that it is a certificating program” and not a college course.

In regards to the fees established with the program, the board planned to arrange meetings with tour operators and travel agents to gauge the “best practices” on the matter.

For the types of fees to be established, Tenorio mentioned course fees or minimal insurance as some examples discussed.