Why Do You Want To Be A Tour Guide?

During the tour guide examination, when I asked the trainees "Why do you want to be a tour guide? " Their answer most likely will be as below.

If you asked any tour guides, why do you love and want to be a tour guide? The answer mostly likely will be as stated below.

If you meet any laymen, and when they knew your professional, they will feel so amused on your occupation and envy you on having such a good occupation.

These are generally the answers most trainees and tour guides will tell you and the realistic situation on being a tour guide. So, here I would like to give a better view on the work of a tour guide and also on why I love this job very much...

1) Meeting People
It is very normal for most tour guides to answer this because naturally during the work of a tour guide, we bound to meet new people. This is one of a very main quality which is very much needed in a tour guide. Should you do not have such a quality, then I should say it is best you don't be a tour guide.

Meeting new people is always fun. You will be able to see all kind of people. Some young and old, friendly and nasty, hypocrites and humble, etc. Sometimes you will even find that these nasty ones will always test on how good your temper is.

2) Travelling
Of course, being a tour guide, we travel very frequently. One day I might be in Johor Bahru and the next day I will be in Genting Highlands.

Most people will always admire us when we said we are a tour guide. They will be thinking that we always go to new places, stay in luxury hotel, eat good food, visit new places and always meet new friends. They never realise that in fact the places that we travel are very routine, the food that we consumed is worst than the tourists except that of course meeting new people.

Of course if I want to list down the pros and the contras, it will be listless. However, in my opinion of course in order for someone to be successful in his/her career, he/she must firstly love his/her own career. I for sure love my career as a tour guide and my reason for being a tour guide is very different than others...

1) My love for Malaysia
Malaysia is a very beautiful country. We are blessed with 365 days of shiny and rainy days. As such we are so rich in nature. There are so many types of flora and fauna in the country.

Malaysia truly asia. The slogan itself shows that Malaysia is very rich in heritage and culture.

I will be able to introduce Malaysia to the world at large and give them a better understanding of what Malaysia is all about. Most tourists have so many misunderstandings about Malaysia. I want them to past the word of mouth around how beautiful Malaysia is...

2) Knowledge
Most of Malaysians took for granted what we have in our country for example the plants and the beauty scenery. The tourists have opened up my eyes towards my own country. I learn so much from tourists on what we have in our own country where they don't have it. I started to appreciate on what we have here.

In order to have better commentary, I started to read books on Malaysia. The more I read, the more I love Malaysia. Malaysia is so unique compare to any other country in this world.

Being a tour guide, we will never stop our hunger on squenching the knowledge on Malaysia. There are just too many things to learn from. Be it from the tourists, daily work routine, etc. we are bound to learn something new daily.

Of course, besides these two very main reasons, there are also other reasons like monetary gains, freedom, etc.

Complaint

On the 29th June 2008 - 3rd July 2008 I was taking an Indonesian group which consists of 10 pax only. The following is their itinerary :

Hotel : Coronade Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

29th June Arrival at KLIA. Putrajaya and Chinatown.
30th June Genting day trip
1st July Full day meeting
2nd July Full day meeting
3rd July KL - Singapore

On the 1st July at about 11am I recieved a phone call from Mr. Tony (my boss from Spore). He inquired me what is the complaint from the tour member because the tour member phoned to Indonesia to complain. I was very surprised, puzzled and angry because everything goes smoothly. I asked back to Mr Tony what is the complaint all about. It seems that he also do not know what is the complaint all about. I told Mr Tony that I even have a city tour for the tour members which is not include in their itinerary and all the guests are happy so there should not be any complain.

About 5 mins later, I recieved another phone call but this time it is from Indonesia. The caller inquired me about the complaint as well. I feel very puzzled as to why there is a complaint and yet both my boss and the travel agent in Indonesia did not know about. I told the caller from Indonesia that I will find out what is the problem and rectified it with the guests.

Knowing about the complainy from my boss and the Indonesia travel agent, I felt very uneasy the whole day. I called up my tour leader immediately to inquire about the complaint. He also told me that there is no complain at all.

I still feel very upset and uneasy about the complain but then I can't meet up with the guests immediately because they are undergoing their training. So, I have no choice but to wait till evening when I am doing my dinner transfer with them.

At about 7.30pm, I turned up at the hotel and I met with the tour leader. The tour leader told me that there is no complain about me. What a relief for me... He told me that actually the guests called up Indonesia to complain about the transport arrangement for them on the last day. They are required to go to Singapore by bus. The guests are not happy about it and made the complaint.

The whole day of feeling upset and uneasiness turned up to be a good news for me on the next day. My boss called up and said the guests are going to Singapore by flight. Woweee... at least I need not travel 5 hours in the bus to 2nd link and then travel anothe 5 hours to KL again.... Hehehehe...

Indian Group

I have just came back and just finished from taking a SOTC Indian group. So, I would like to share my experience of Indian groups with all of you.

So far I have taken very few Indian groups. I only take Indian groups during the low season of China groups.

As for this Indian group, its so much more relaxing and no pressure at all. The itinerary is really relaxing. This is their itinerary:

1st Day : Recieving them from the airport. Then directly send them to the Dorsett hotel. Once at the hotel, I finish work because the tour leader will take over like distributing them the rooms and taking them to the restaurant at the hotel as well. (For your info, this group of mine, due to rooms tight at Dorsett, there is changes in itinerary. I send them directly to Genting instead. So as for this group there is a minor changes than the normal ones.)

2nd Day : From Dorsett hotel to Genting Highlands. On the way up, usually will drop by to Geneve and then to Batu Caves. This is to let them have lunch there. (I came down from Genting at 4pm and directly went to Dorsett. Finished work upon reaching the hotel at 6pm.)

3rd Day : Came down from Genting Highlands. Then directly went for a City tour mainly consist of the Kings palace, National Monument, passing by the National Mosque, Independence Square, Chocolate Boutique, photostop at KLCC and finally proceed to KL Tower. After the city tour, go back to the Dorsett hotel and its free and easy again for the guests. ( Went to Geneve, then Batu Cave for lunch. Then proceed to Port Dickson and stay at Corus Paradise hotel.)

4th Day: Went to Port Dickson. And its free and easy from there onwards. (Came back from PD and went for the city tour. Then went back to stay at Dorsett. Free and easy after that.)

5th Day: From Port Dickson directly to Singapore. (From KL directly to Singapore)

So you can see that for the Indian groups, the itinerary is so much relaxing compared to the Indian group mainly because they have the tour leaders to manage the guests rooms and the meals are at the hotel.

As for income, Indian group is so much lesser. Because what ever we earn, for example from the magic show, kl tower, photoes, etc. half of the profit must be given to the tour leader. Furthermore, the shopping stops are 2 only. We only go to Geneve and Chocolate. Lastly, tipping from the Indian guests is a mere of luck. But then usually when we provide good service for the Indians, they do give some tipping but then so much lesser than the China group. (Cos China guests have to pay a fixed amount to the tour guide)

No other side income for Indian groups like the China group. We can never change money to the Indian tourists as they speak English and they know the rate as well.

As for the character wise, the Indians and the Chinese are not much difference. For very little minor things they like to quarrel and fight for it. They don't tolerate and are so much afraid of people cheating on them. Sometimes even the Indians speak very loudly as well. They have a lot of similarities. In my own opinion, maybe because they are from largely populated country, thats the reason why they have bad mannerism and lacked of civic mindedness. Maybe due to too many cheaters in their own country, that is why they cant trust people easily.

But the good thing about the Indians is that at least they will change their clothes everyday. Not like the Chinese tourists who don't change their clothes even after a week. Another good thing about the Indians are that they are more willing to spend on drinks, snacks etc. The Chinese are just too miser.

Anyway how, as for this group of mine, I really enjoyed taking them especially the Agarwal family, the Dedgaonkar family, the Mahajan family and Dr. Jayachandra. They really appreciate what I did for them and even gave me tipping.

I was thinking, should I get older, when income is no longer important to me, perhaps I will change from taking China to Indian group cos its so much more relaxing.