The Federal Ministry decision to “temporarily open” tourist guiding labor market to Korean citizen tourist guides is detrimental not only to the well being of Malaysian tourist guides in Sabah but also to the tourism industry as a whole.

Firstly, Malaysian tourist guides are being sidelined. We, the local tourist guides, are disappointed with Federal government giving away “good jobs” to the non-Malaysian. We are happy with the exponential increased in Korea tourists’ arrival because it will make tourism industry grow bigger and wish to make it clear that our members is ever prepared for challenges.

The benefits of growth in tourism industry should trickled down to us “the forgotten not less important player” of the industry. Higher demand should result in higher pay to those existing local guides if they already invested their effortsand money to become well versed in Korean language (and things Korean). Deliberately liberalizing tourist guides market will eliminate this incentive.

The argument that Korean (or Russian, following the Federal Minister’s examples) will not visit Sabah because there is shortage of Korean speaker guides is lame. The surge in Korean arrival to Sabah (2010 to 2012) is most likely inflated by the number of Koreanwho works for Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal projects in Kimanis. According to Malaysia Tourists Profile report, Professional, technicians, administrative and managerial made up 69% of occupation groups amongKorean visitors plus 75% are Male.

It was reported in by local newspapers that most of “these tourists” had a difficult in obtaining working permit. If this is true, then the exponential increased in Korean arrival is just another seasonality effect. The recruitment of Korean citizen guides is a hasty decision from the Ministry. According the same report, 40% of them have come to Sabah more than twice. The main factors in choosing Malaysia was sightseeing (33%), like to know more about Malaysia (21%) and many tourism attractions (17%). Having a many Korean speaking guides was not included. How many of the 7 Korean citizen tourist guides are well versed about things Malaysia?

The shortage of tourist Korean speaking guides is claimed to affecting tour operators, travel agents, tourists or hospitality and tourism in general, but recruitment of Korean citizens are not part of the solution. In addition, the current mechanism where Korean Tour Leader and a local guide is working, the ministry need to prove what have failed and we urge together to address it.

The Federal Ministry’s decision is clouded by the emotional reaction to our constructive criticism and by YB Ng Yen Yen eagerness to please the Korea Embassy. We at the STGA are committed to improving our self and urge the ministry to share the information on the rouge guides (as mentioned by the Minister) if they are association’s member and to implement our own investigation.

We urge our fellow Malaysian guides to protest against the decision of the Minister who forgotten that it was the Malaysian who hoisted her to the pedestal of power not the Korean. in addition Stga wish to advise the federal minister not to belittle the capability of Sabah guides, the tourism industry in Sabah is vibrant as it is today because Sabah guides have been doing excellent work while many of our members have died in the line of duty.

In response to the question posed by the Deputy Tourism Minister Dato Dr James Dawos Mawit on how many sabah guides that could speak german and french language so to make comparison with sarawak foreign speaking guides, STGA wish to inform him that we have more members that could speak foreign language compare to most tourist guides association throughout malaysia, this include sarawak, and there is quite significant amount of Sabah guides who were certified to be a Korean speaking guide.

We urge the federal ministry to take a breather , do some groundwork and consult us first to make better informed decision and statement. Collectively, we can find a solution.

STGA also wish to invite the Chairman of Keningau Interior Tourism Association to consult us, spend time and learn the issue better, we hope to impart our knowledge and experiences in regards to the Korean market to they could from now on as a professional body come up with a much informed statement since we believe they too have fails to understand the issue and do some groundwork.

As for the small group of STGA members that were found to have align this issue through political means and have defies the instruction from STGA Executive Committee , STGA will deal with it internally.

STGA wish to call our fellow tourist guides in sarawak to come together and establish the Sabah Sarawak Tourist Guides Confederation so to recommend the right policies, protecting our right , interest and our livelihood.

End.