MALAYSIA- 400 delegates are expected to attend the first Asean Tourist Guides Conference, which is expected to have a total economic effect of RM3.3 million, according to Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak).
The 1st Asean Tourist Guides Conference, to be held at the Imperial Hotel Kuching from October 24–26 this year, is being proudly announced by the Sarawak Tourist Guides Association (SKTGA).
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) tour guide communities will benefit from a collaborative approach to enhance travel experiences and secure a stronger future, according to a statement released by BESarawak yesterday. The conference’s primary message is “Togetherness in Tour Guiding Excellence.”
How tour guides can adapt to the digital transformation period and positively impact the local tour-guiding community is one of the main subjects that BESarawak says will be covered at the next conference.
The conference also intends to assist the Sarawak government’s ambitions for tourist growth as part of the Post-Covid-19 Growth Strategy, it continued.
According to Minister of Tourist, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the tourist industry generated RM9.99 billion in revenue last year, or 101.41% more than the state’s GDP, and accounted for 37% of the state’s GDP.
“We must prioritize the protection and promotion of tour guides and recognize the invaluable contributions and unique experiences they offer, even in the face of excellent statistics,” he stated.
Abdul Karim emphasized that tour guides are storytellers with historical and cultural knowledge of the places they visit, providing individualized experiences and overcoming hurdles posed by different languages and cultures.
Above all, they guarantee security and safety. This kind of trip experience and interpersonal engagement cannot be provided by technology or independence, thus it is crucial to preserve it, the speaker stated.
According to SKTGA honorary chairman Edwin Lim, as travel services become more digital, some parts of the travel and tour sector are disappearing.
In light of this, he stated that for tour guides to continue to flourish in the face of technology and shifting customer preferences, they must adapt to it, highlight the community’s strengths, and work in tandem with pertinent stakeholders.
“Maintaining during off-peak seasons and assisting younger guides in pursuing their careers are two additional challenges that tour guides encounter.”
“We hope to unite as a global community and transform the tourism landscape by bringing together important players at the 1st Asean Tourist Guides Conference,” he continued.
“Holding the 1st Asean Tourist Guides Conference is about turning challenges into opportunities and making a positive impact on a community that is trying to sustain the industry and promote its expertise for a transformation in Sarawak’s tourism landscape,” stated Amelia Roziman, chief executive officer of BESarawak.
