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Tourist Guide Course

1. What is the process for becoming a tourist guide?
  • Contact a tourism training institution registered with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia. The names of tourism training institutions are as listed.
  • Attend and pass the 4 to 6-month Basic Tourist Guide Course.
  • Sit for the written and practical examinations conducted by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia.
  • Results will be released 30 working days after the examinations.
  • Candidates who have passed the Basic Tourist Guide Course will receive a letter and certificate from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia and a Malaysian Skill Certificate from the Department of Skills Development through their tourism training institutions. These candidates are required to sit for the We Are The Host (WATH) Course conducted by the tourism training institutions or the Tourist Guide Association of Malaysia.
  • Successful candidates must submit the documents mentioned below to the Licensing Division of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia within 3 months of obtaining the Basic Tourist Guide Course Certificate from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia:
    • Basic Tourist Guide Course Certificate
    • We Are The Host (WATH) Course Certificate
    • Malaysian Skill Certificate
    • 1 passport-sized photograph
    • 1 copy of identity card
    • 1 copy of receipt of membership in State Tourist Guide Association
    • Detailed medical certificate from any government hospital/licensed medical practitioner
  • A provisional Tourist Guide Licence will be issued within 5 days of submission of documents.
  • Tourist guides must sit for the Tourist Guide Confirmation Course within the 2-year probation period and acquire 3 Continuous Tourism Related Education (CTRE) certificates in order to obtain a Permanent Tourist Guide Licence.
  • To renew the Tourist Guide Licence, 6 CTRE certificates must be acquired within 2 years.
2. What are the opportunities for career advancement for a tourist guide?
Existing tourist guides can enhance their knowledge by learning foreign languages and increasing their guiding languages so that they can guide foreign tourists. Tourist guides who can speak foreign languages are very much in demand now. For tourist guides who are interested in training and teaching, with enough experience, they can become trainers and examiners for the tourist guide course at tourism training institutions. With sufficient experience and capital, tourist guides can also involve themselves in tourism related businesses such as tour agencies, hotels and resorts.

3. What are the differences between city tourist guides and nature tourist guides?

City Tourist GuidesLocal Nature Tourist Guides
City tourist guides can guide tourists in cities throughout Malaysia. Local nature tourist guides can guide tourists only within the natural areas they selected when they registered to obtain their license.
Attend and pass the Basic Tourist Guide Course to obtain a city tourist guide licence. The duration of the course is 500 hours (4-6 months) and it is conducted by tourism training institutions registered with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia. Attend and pass the Local Nature Tourist Guide Course to obtain a local nature tourist guide licence. The duration of the course is 17 days months and it is conducted by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks.
The colour of the license is blue. The colour of the license is green.

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