Seventeen individuals completing the Basic Tourists Guide Course and eight accomplishing the second Basic Bird Watching Tourist Guide Course received certificates during a ceremony at Setia Pahlawan Hall, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) on Thursday.
Acting Permanent Secretary at the MPRT Haji Mohd Yusree bin Haji Junaidi, the guest of honour, presented the certificates.
The 16th Basic Tourists Guide Course was held from February 17 to March 2. It was first introduced in 2016 as one of the pre-requirements under the Tourism Development Department to obtain a tour guide license. Since its introduction, 232 tour guides have been registered under the Tourism Development Department.
Meanwhile, the second Basic Bird Watching Tourist Guide Course took place from February 3 to 12. The course was first introduced last year when only two tour guides specialised in bird watching were registered at the department.
The courses, conducted jointly by the Tourism Development Department and Laksamana College of Business, aimed to strengthen tour guide skills in providing quality services meeting the established standard, relaying accurate information, as well as to provide employment opportunities.
Tour guides who passed the basic tourist guide will need to submit their application to the Tourism Development Department to obtain the tour guide license.
Under Section 20 (3) of the Tourism Act, Chapter 239, it is an offence for unregistered and unlicensed individuals to carry out tour guide services. If found guilty, the offender will face a fine of up to BND5,000 and up to BND10,000 for the second offence. – James Kon
