Do not rush Korean guides plan – STGA

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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Tour Guide Association (STGA) has insisted that the Ministry of Tourism should not rush its plan to allow Korean nationals to work as tour guides in Sabah, saying it might not necessarily be the best solution for the state tourism industry.

Its chairman, Daniel Doughty, said a thorough consideration of all the issues involved must be taken as the implementation of such move might not only affect the livelihood of local tour guides but could also create unforeseen problems for the tourism sector.

He added that the association wished to be involved in discussing and studying the matter to ensure all arising concerns were looked into and the best mechanism was set in place before the ministry continued with its plan.

“All we want is to be consulted, and thanks to Datuk Masidi for taking his time to listen to our views and concerns,” he said, adding that tour operators wanted to understand what the federal ministry thought the problem was with the current system of using translators to assist local guides handling Korean visitors.

Doughty during a dialogue session organized by Malaysia Association of Tour and Travel Agents here yesterday, said the association sought only to cooperate with the ministry to resolve the issue the best way possible for the good of the industry and did not condone any action of its members to politicize the matter.

Reports on the weekend said STGA was unhappy with the federal ministry’s decision to allow foreigners to attend localised tourist guide course here.

The move would greatly affect the livelihood of local tour guides, who are already suffering from the global economic crisis and the reduction of direct flights to Sabah, said the association.

Contacted after the dialogue, Doughty said local guides were needed not only to explain to tourists about the places they were visiting but also to monitor the tourists under their care, to ensure they did not harm plants or wildlife during their stay.

“We have reports of feeding of wildlife, catching fireflies and guides being harassed. With our guides accompanying the tourists, we can at least monitor them.

“Basically, we are asking for better mechanism. STGA has been requesting for consultation but this has not been given, we do not want her (Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Ng Nyen Nyen) to do it immediately. What we want is a consultative minister.

“People have often forgotten that at present there are already Koreans coming in as tour leader cum translator, and they also act as guide,” he said, adding the focus should not be about bringing in Korean guides but training more locals to accommodate Korean visitors.

In this regard, he said the ministry should look beyond just having more local tour guides who could speak the Korean language but those who know how to properly manage Korean visitors.

He said a good tour guide must not only be able to converse in the language but understand the culture and needs of the clients.

For this, he suggested a programme similar to that carried out with the Japanese under the OSCA system where locals are sent to experience the language and daily lives in Japan.

“Even though they learn about farming for instance, they can become guides. The issue is not about learning Korean in Kota Kinabalu. The issue is how to converse with Koreans and the only way to come up to that level is by living there to understand their culture and habits,” he said.

He added that the ministry also needed to consider that there was no guarantee that the imported translator or tour guides would stay working in Sabah and not move to other places while they are still needed here, hence wasting time and resources training them in localized packages.