The role of a tourist guide is far more than showing visitors sights, head of department and programme leader for Pearson BTEC Business and Hospitality Management at Laksamana College of Business (LCB) Simon Keenan said.
“It is about being the storytellers of our nation. They are the guardians of our history, the ambassadors of our culture and the bridge between our past and the evolving future of tourism,” he said.
Keenan said this at a ceremony to present certificates to eight individuals who completed the basic tour guide course at a ceremony at the Setia Pahlawan Hall of the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT).
Permanent Secretary at the MPRT Hajah Tutiaty binti Haji Abdul Wahab presented the certificates.
The course aims to improve and strengthen the skills of tour guides in providing quality service and ensuring information provided by tour guides is accurate and to provide job opportunities, especially for locals.
Keenan said tour guides are equipped with knowledge to create memorable experience for tourists and contribute to the growth of industry with their training.
He described the country’s environment and culture hold untapped potential.
The 13th tour guide basic course was held from September 11 to 20. The course introduced in 2016, is one of the prerequisites of the Tourism Development Department for any individual wishing to obtain a tourist guide licence.
Since the course started, 199 tour guides are registered with the Tourism Development Department and have participated in the course.
Tour guides who have passed the course, are required to submit an application to the Tourism Development Department, MPRT to obtain a tour guide licence.
An individual who is not registered and obtains a tour guide licence, operates a tour guide service without a valid licence or advertises private travel services is committing an offence. Those guilty can be fined not exceeding BND5,000 for the first offence according to Section 20(3) of the Tourism Act, Chapter 239.
For the second and subsequent offences the fine will be not more than BND10,000. – James Kon
