Denpasar

The Bali chapter of the Indonesian Tourist Guide Association (HPI) has resumed its guide certification program in response to an increase in the number of tourists from non-English-speaking countries.

On year 2007, the number of Chinese, Russian and Korean tourists visiting Bali was increasing.  Chinese market increased into 77, 592 as November from 36, 394 in 2006. While number of Russian and Korean tourists reached 31,267 people and 107,425, as of November. The number of tourists from these countries is increasing by up to 30 percent each year

Currently there were only around 700 guides who speak Mandarin, 50 for Russian and dozens of Korean. Bali will need at least 300 more guides who speak Mandarin and 100 each for Russian and Korean.

The HPI hopes to find more qualified guides who are able to speak Russian, Korean and Chinese. Registration for the current round of certification will be open from Dec. 29 to Jan. 20.