The Guides Association of Bhutan (GAB) is proposing a minimum qualification requirement of a university degree for anyone aspiring to be a tour guide. The association says doing so will help Bhutan in keeping her status as a high-end tourist destination. The GAB plans to make an official proposal to the government within this year.
52-year-old Garab Dorji, the founder and the chairperson of the GAB has worked as a professional tour guide since the 1990s. From his years of experience in the field, he feels that there is a need to improve the standard of tour guides in the country. By that he means, qualification and training duration to obtain tour guide license. Current requirement is a high school graduate who takes up a three-month training at any tour guides training institution.
“We feel that the minimum qualification of a guide should be a university graduate with special criteria for the English language. Majority of them who can afford Bhutan are older than 58 years. So when we have that kind of tourists who are seasoned travellers, who have travelled all over the world, to send a mediocre guide with less qualification, and immature and young and with less training, it does not actually portray what we are selling,” he said.
He added that the majority of the tourists he interacted with in the past expect that they be accompanied by a guide who is a good storyteller and is well educated about the places they go to.
Some tour guides said alongside qualification, good attitude to work and being well informed is equally important.
“We are the face of the country. To be honest, if we are well educated and has some sort of experience, be disciplined and have a good attitude there will be no problem in being around with the tourists. When we say tourism, we are dealing with a lot of nationalities from all over the world. So there are people who are highly educated. And to be with them means we have to be knowledgeable and learned. For me, I am a graduate from Sydney University and I don’t have a problem in doing that,” said Dorji Wangmo, a Tour Guide.
“They need some training and actually be attached with senior guides before they take the guests all on their own. This will let them gain some experience. They should go with a senior guide, someone who is more experienced,” added Yeshi Samdrup, also a Tour Guide.
“Most are talking about qualification which I think is also must but what is more important is the attitude towards work. So even if we are not highly qualified, it would help if we get some sort of training. The younger tour guides I meet on the field seem to be having some sort of difficulties. They are nervous and gets complaints from their guests. The complaints go directly to the agents and then it is the guide who loses the opportunity,” shared Dechen Wangmo, also a Tour Guide.
GAB says it has been raising this issue for the last ten years. The Association has also discussed it with the members of the tourism committee of the parliament earlier this year.
“A lot of officers from TCB and labour also feel that we need to raise the standard. Definitely, we at GAB feel that it is an opportune moment for us to have a new start. Tour guides are the face of the nation. Tourism in Bhutan is unique and the only destination in the world that sells exclusive package. The guide is there in the entire trip the tourists take,” said Garab Dorji.
Today there are around 4,600 licensed tour guides in the country of which around 1,500 are actively working in the field.
Phub Gyem
