By Anna Mole
CALAMBA CITY, Laguna —The Department of Tourism (DOT) Calabarzon has expressed its full support for the Laguna provincial government’s plan to boost heritage-based tourism, affirming that the rich historical narrative of the province deserves to be shared and preserved for generations to come.
In an interview, DOT Calabarzon regional director Marites Castro lauded the province’s initiatives to integrate historical education with tourism development, noting that each town has its own unique stories.
“We need more stories about a province or each town, and this should be continuous,” Castro stated.
She added: “Yes, the destination, history, tradition, and other cultural things are already there but what is lacking is the storytelling behind those. So what we need is to train and have experienced tour guides who know the history of the province of Laguna and also have food to tell stories about, not just what you will eat.”
One of the flagship programs of Laguna Governor Sol Aragones is to personally lead the promotion of local tourism, making it a key driver of inclusive growth. Her administration is determined to spotlight the province’s diverse cultural heritage, historical landmarks, and natural wonders.
Aragones emphasized that she wants the stories of all 24 municipalities and 6 component cities to be known, understood, and appreciated by every Lagunense, especially the youth. This, she said, will help nurture a deep sense of local pride and identity, and encourage future generations to become ambassadors of the province’s heritage.
To strengthen this goal, the DOT recommended greater community participation in preserving and narrating local history.
“That’s why I would suggest that we have tour guide training and tap our senior citizens to tell stories, because they know these things better. Sometimes we will be fooled by myths, but through them we will be able to prove that this is true and not a coachman’s story. Retired teachers can also become storytellers and heritage educators,” she said.
In 2024, DOT Calabarzon recorded 461, 698 overnight tourists and 19,073,049 same day arrival tourists in the province of Laguna.
