Tour guides may be a dime a dozen in Bali, but the only ones that are legally allowed to operate are those that have obtained official status with the government. Unlicensed guides are not only a risky proposition for tourists, they’re also at risk of incurring heavy fines themselves if caught.
On Wednesday, the Gianyar District Court fined three men, identified as Nicky, Supowi, and Jonson, IDR25 million (US$1.741) each after they were found guilty of working as tour guides without official tour guide identity cards (KTPP). They all agreed to pay the fines over the alternative of spending three months in prison.
Nicky, Supowi, and Jonson were arrested by the Civil Service Police (Satpol PP) after they weren’t able to show their KTPP on April 22. At the time of their arrest, the three of them were guiding Chinese tourists at Pura Puseh Batuan in the Sukawati sub-district of Gianyar Regency.
“Tour guides are one of the most important components of the tourism sector, as they greatly influence the quality of service and image of tourism [on the island]. Therefore, tour guides must possess qualities that meet competency standards,” Judge Wawan Edi Prasetiyo said at the sentencing hearing, as quoted by Bali Express on Wednesday.
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