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Tuesday, September 18, 2012

SAPP: Ministry's decision absurd .. sending wrong signals


By Richard Yong

The reasons provided by the Minister Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen to justify the Ministry's decision to localize the Korean tourists guides is absurd.

The Ministry's responsibility is to help boost the growth of tourism industry as a whole without compromising the interest of the local tourism industry.

Localizing the Korean tourist guides is directly taking over the role of the local tourist guides equivalent of taking over their rice bowl.

The Minister even went on to say that she would consider the request of other foreign countries by allowing foreign tourist guides the licence to operate here. I have not seen any country doing such thing that could hurt their own tourism industry. You always get to have a local tourist guide to accompany the tourists group when you take a tour in foreign country.

In Sabah's case the local tourist guides will be taken over by the Korean guides because they have got the local licence to guide.

The Minister has overlooked the interest of Sabah tourism and has failed to see the difficulties and problems faced by the local tourist guides in terms of income and opportunities.

It is very disappointing that the Sabah Ministry of Tourism have not spoken up for our local tourists guides who are actually the lifeline of the tourist industry in Sabah.

The Federal Tourism Ministry must re-consider their decision by looking at the larger interest, help the local tourists guides instead of looking for short-cut solution to the Korean guide shortage problem. The Ministry's decision could be sending wrong signals to the foreign tour companies. Once they start doing the same could lead to the demise of the local tourism industry.

Datuk Richard Yong We Kong is Secretary-General of Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) cum Tanjung Aru CLC Chairman.
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40 comments:

  1. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 11:00 AM

    The local guides then must learn to master more foreign languages.

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    Replies
    1. welsonSeptember 19, 2012 at 11:27 AM

      Yeah i agree with you.. Local guides need to learn more language to meet demand as a tour guides.

      Delete
    2. karulnaimSeptember 19, 2012 at 11:29 AM

      govt need to give the priority to our local first and give them education to other languages.

      Delete
    3. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 11:44 AM

      Local guides do speak a few languages (locals, dialects, international). Not many though but there are some of them. Tourism Ministry should be encouraging local guides to take up foreign languages, cultural learning, etc...and by subsidising some funds to help out. This was not a keen suggestions by NYY saying each local guiding association should obtained their own funds. Where is the improvement? Furthermore, foreign tour operators aren't using local guides(who can speak their language)due to high cost of guiding expense according to them. Why NYY is not giving State Minister Dtk Masidi a chance to improve and seek a solution to this issue instead of leaping over his head??? Sabahans WILL fight for this!!!

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    4. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 10:29 PM

      They should go for languages courses or any other training to improve their skills.

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    5. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2012 at 2:49 PM

      Let's go for Masidi's suggestion. He said we should look this matter in holistic way. Don't be too emotional.

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    6. kellySeptember 20, 2012 at 5:25 PM

      i agree...the local guides should be given a chance to improve their skills...not by repalcing them with the foreigners... this is bad for the local, bad for economics and bad for the tourists..because local people knows best about the customs, places and people...why do we have to depend on foreigners? are we not good enough?

      Delete
    7. JesonSeptember 24, 2012 at 8:30 AM

      Keupayaan berbahasa amat penting untuk memnjadi tour guide yang professional.

      Delete
  2. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 11:02 AM

    People all around the world should learn English! Easy to communicate.

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 11:07 AM

      Indeed. Less communication problems if each and everyone able to speak in English.

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    2. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 11:47 AM

      When you travel to a foreign land, observe and learn other people culture, language, style of living, food, etc...a local guide is the best way of learning much more. Your own guide is there to facilitate in cases of miscommunication and emergency not to speak and brief the whole tour in your own native language. It just do not set the tour tone....like in Rome, do what the Romans do.....

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    3. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 10:31 PM

      Not only English but as many foreign languages as they can.

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    4. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2012 at 3:01 PM

      Actually our English level is slightly better than. We can polish the way we talk etc. We don't have to be so ashamed with our level, after all, Europeans are likely not into English language.

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    5. kellySeptember 20, 2012 at 5:27 PM

      i agree with the points above...people are learning...

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    6. Nisha KumarSeptember 24, 2012 at 8:32 AM

      English adalah bahasa perantaraan, harus dipelajari agar dapat berkomunikasi secara antarabangsa.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 11:04 AM

    Walau apa pun keputusan diambil, kepentingan dan kebajikan pemandu pelancong tempatan harus dilindungi oleh kerajaan.

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 11:05 AM

      The local tourist guides shall be able to express their opinions regarding this matter.

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    2. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 10:35 PM

      Keputusan kerajaan adalah untuk kepentingan industri pelancongan juga. pemandu pelancong tempatan tetap diberi keutamaan.

      Delete
    3. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2012 at 3:04 PM

      Sebenarnya isu ini boleh dibincangkan lagi. Jangan sampai ada pihak yang ketinggalan .

      Delete
    4. kiliSeptember 20, 2012 at 3:21 PM

      jgn biarkan kepentingan pemandu pelancong tempatan terjejas.

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    5. maxSeptember 20, 2012 at 5:31 PM

      betul tu..kepentingan pemandu pelancong tempatan harus diutamakan...selaras dengan rakyat didahulukan pencapaian diutamakan..kemasukkan pemandu pelancong asing dan syarikat perlancongan asing secara tidak langsung menyempitkan ruang dan peluang rakyat tempatan untuk cari makan dalam industri ini...apa yang perlu dilakukan adalah membantu pemandu pelancong tempatan memiliki kemahiran berbahasa asing yang baik selain daripada kemahiran2 lain..ini akan dapat membantu mereka lebih produktif dan efektif..kementerian berkenaan harus menimbang semula keputusan tersebut.

      Delete
    6. AlisaSeptember 24, 2012 at 8:36 AM

      Keutamaan harus diberi kepada pemandu tempatan.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 6:41 PM

    this is really wrong what if other country start to send their own guide? what use of the local guide? do they understand or know more about our country? who knows they gave wrong information and what impact will it be for us? by opening your door to total stranger is the beginning of a potential disaster, why NYY always causing trouble? very disappointing when i heard about this and bare in mind the koreans are already invading sabah by opening restaurant, handicraft shop, karaoke, cybercafe, our golf course an even trying to built resort..... so how the state gonna make money when their own ppl have invaded.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2012 at 3:34 PM

      There is no right and wrong here. After all, we are thinking about the local guides. If we want to have a nice local guide then we have to fully equip them with languages and knowledge.

      Delete
    2. kellySeptember 20, 2012 at 5:33 PM

      the authority should re-consider the decision they made..

      Delete
  5. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 10:38 PM

    Pemandu pelancong tempatan tetap mempunyai kelebihan tersendiri dalam memberi perkhidmatan kepada pelancong.Pemandu pelancong asing mana tau selok belok negeri ni.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. williamSeptember 20, 2012 at 5:35 PM

      sudahlah tidak tahu selok-belok, adat,budaya, nilai2 masyarakat tempatn pun diorang tidak tahu...nah, sudahlah sesat, menyesatkan lagi pula nanti...

      Delete
    2. jeriSeptember 21, 2012 at 12:18 AM

      apa pun, semoga industri pelancongan akan terus berkembang di Sabah.

      Delete
    3. harisSeptember 24, 2012 at 8:40 AM

      Perkembangan industri pelancongan akan meningkatkan pendapatan negeri.

      Delete
  6. AnonymousSeptember 19, 2012 at 10:41 PM

    Apapun, yang pasti keputusan ni untuk sementara saja. jadi, pemandu pelancong perlulah lengkapkan diri dengan pelbagai kemahiran.

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    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2012 at 3:22 PM

      kemahiran dari pelbagai bahasa penting.

      Delete
    2. williamSeptember 20, 2012 at 5:38 PM

      sementara kah tidak, ia tetap bermakna periuk nasi pemandu pelancong tempatan ditutup...penyelesaian yang lebih baik dan menguntungkang pemain dalam industri perlancongan ini harus difikirkan..

      Delete
    3. ikoSeptember 21, 2012 at 12:13 AM

      ya, pemandu pelancong tempatan perlu lengkapkan diri mereka dengan skill yang lebih baik.

      Delete
  7. AnonymousSeptember 20, 2012 at 3:36 PM

    Kerajaan sebenarnya telah banyak membuka kelas2 untuk pemandu pelancong. AMC kan ada buka kelas bahasa free.

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    Replies
    1. ikoSeptember 21, 2012 at 12:09 AM

      usaha kerajaan memberikan kelas bahasa memang baik.

      Delete
  8. ikoSeptember 21, 2012 at 12:06 AM

    sebelum sesuatu dilaksanakan baik dan buruk perlu dikaji dahulu.

    ReplyDelete
  9. jeriSeptember 21, 2012 at 12:15 AM

    pemandu pelancong tempatan perlu terus berusaha untuk menambah kemahiran mereka agar dapat berikan perkhidmatan yang terbaik.

    ReplyDelete
  10. KakiSeptember 24, 2012 at 8:44 AM

    Study in details before execution.

    ReplyDelete
  11. headhunterSeptember 25, 2012 at 8:52 AM

    sebab itu perlu ambil pemandu pelancong dari korea, sebab pemandu pelancong tempatan gagal menarik pelancong dari negara itu..

    ReplyDelete
  12. headhunterSeptember 25, 2012 at 8:55 AM

    pelancong korea lebih mepercayai orang mereka walaupun ada pemandu pelancong yang boleh bertutur dalam bahasa korea dengan baik.. so eloklah guna khidmat pemandu pelancong korea untuk meningkatkan lagi jumlah pelancong korea ke negeri ini.. lagipun langkah ini hanya untuk sementara..

    ReplyDelete

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