Kota Kinabalu: A newly approved Sabah Native Registered Tourist Guide Association has pledged to champion the welfare and interest of its members as well as voice out their needs to the authorities.Its President Dabalun Balau said the Registrar of Societies (ROS) approved the establishment of the association on Dec. 5 this year.
"Presently, the association has 70 members and we are calling on licensed bumiputera tourist guides above 18 in Sabah to join.
"We aim to enhance the members' socio-economic living and increase their knowledge in the field like exposing them to various courses and seminars that could further improve their quality, credibility and integrity as licensed tourist guides in Sabah.
"The association will become the platform for members to voice out issues faced by them and we will bring it up to the authorities to be looked into," he said, Wednesday. The headquarters is temporarily located at Beverly Hills.
Dabalun said the association is also willing to work hand in hand with government departments and agencies to further improve the members' development in tourism industry.
He said the association also aimed to ensure the members are competitive and at par with other licensed tourist guides in terms of knowledge, skill and credibility as well as quality.
"We also pledge to help the unlicensed tourist guides in Sabah who need our help to be licensed guides in this (tourism) industry.
"We are aware of the existence of this group of tourist guides who operate without licence and, thus, we would like to help them to be registered with the assistance of the concerned authorities.
"Furthermore, we would also assist local youths who have interest to be registered tourist guides and provide them with necessary guidance and information," Dabalun said.
According to him, they also plan to explore any new place and potential sites that have yet to be announced as tourist destinations and they will also make sure the natural surroundings in those sites are well taken care of.
He said the non-bumiputera tourist guides can also apply to join the association but as associated members who can enjoy the benefits as members but they will not have the right to vote.
Dabalun said the association has submitted its application to be affiliated with the Malaysian Tourist Guide Council in the peninsula.
Those who wish to join the association can contact the association secretary George Rejosh at 013-8334677 or 017-8609816.
