REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR - Korean tourists are expected to flood Bali in upcoming September and October 2014. Most of them are going to honey moon after marriage. They choose to stay in hotels while in Bali.
Cho Sung Hoo, Director of MTM Tour - one of travel agencies serving Korean tourists in Bali - said that the high interest of Korean tourists was not in line with tour guide service.
"Bali only has a total of 200 Korean-speaking tour guides with licenses. We need more than 500 tour guides," Cho said recently.
In September and October, Cho estimated that about 12,000-15,000 marriage couples from Korea would come to Bali. It equals to 500 couples per day. They are all facilitated by 40 travel agencies in Bali.
"If we only have 200 licensed tour guides, so we still need 300 others," Cho added.
This condition becomes a big dilemma. In Bali, every tour guide must have a license. On the other hand, the procedure for obtaining the license is rather complicated.
Actually, there are many unlicensed tour guides who can speak Korea. However, the travel agents are reluctant to give them job.