Licensed to Thrill

639 Guides Licensed to Serve Bali Visitors

(6/2/2013)

639 tour guides in Bali holding expired licenses have passed recertification tests allowing them to once again work as legal guides.

The State News Agency Antara quotes the head of the Provincial Tourism Office for Bali (Kadisparda), Ida Bagus Kade Subhisku, who announced “the results of the training course and certification process run by the Indonesian Guide Association (HPI) has satisfactorily fulfilled our aims and wishes.”

The 639 certified guides can now receive a recommendation from the governor of Bali that will put an operational permit in their hands allowing to officially work as guides. Official identity cards issued by the government are being prepared to permit the public to recognize them as eligible to lead guided tours.

“From all those following the recertification process only eight people failed to pass the examination. Looking at these satisfying results, we will discuss repeating a similar course soon,” said Subhisku.

The head of Bali’s chapter of HPI, Putu Subaya, said the certification process represents a combined effort by his association and the provincial government to reduce the presence of illegal guides on Bali.

Subaya said there are still travel agencies in Bali who use unlicensed guides to lead their tours.

The certification course covered a curriculum of 23 different study modules and was taught by senior tourism practitioners and academics.

Source: BaliDiscovery.com