Homestay operators in Biliran province received a kit on Tuesday from the Department of Tourism (DOT) Eastern Visayas that will help make their homes more friendly to guests.

A total of 29 beneficiaries received the kits –18 from Higatangan Island in Naval town, while 11 are from the island town of Maripipi. They all completed the seven-day homestay training provided by the DOT in March this year.

The homestay kit is composed of towels, linen, pillows, and blankets for use in rooms that they offer to tourists availing of their accommodation facilities.

Among those who received the homestay kits are Florida Enero of Higatangan Island and Judith Gaviola of Maripipi. They thanked the DOT for providing such assistance, as this will help them improve the services they provide to their customers.

“This is such a great help for us who are engaging and offering homestay,” said Enero, a newbie in the homestay business.

She added this assistance will ensure that the rooms they offer to their guests are presentable and the quality of service that they provide meets the standard.

Gaviola, for her part, shared that the kits she received would be used immediately because the linens they have been using are already worn out and needed to be replaced.

“This new linen will help make the rooms more presentable to our guests,” she said.

Gaviola has been offering three rooms in her residence for homestay in Maripipi town since she retired from government service in 2016.

Higatangan and Maripipi town are both emerging tourist destinations in the region and the newest addition to the cruise destinations in the region. Higatangan is known for its shifting sandbar, while Maripipi is popular for its Sambawan Island.

There are accommodation facilities operating in these two areas, but the number and their room capacity are not enough to cater to the increasing number of guests.

Offering homestays allows guests to immerse themselves in the local culture, traditions, and way of life, giving them an authentic experience while staying in the home of the homestay operators. (PNA)