I am Louis Jap, 59, an active, full-fledged Malaysian Tourist Guide based in Kuching, the capital city of Sarawak on Malaysian Borneo since 1978. I hold the various tour-guiding licenses - Malaysian National Tourist Guide (TG 0806), Sarawak Region Specific Tourist Guide (RSTG 00007) and Sarawak National Park Guide (PGL/12/182). During my 40 years in tourism, I have also worked as a Tour Coordinator, Operation Manager and Sales Manager to Business Development Manager in several local, national and international tours and travel agencies. I have experienced thick and thin handling both crucial and critical situations in the tourism line, from bone-fide tourists to the more specialized visitors like travel agents, journalists and naturalists.
During the 1990s, I served as a Tour Director for an American-based Travel Agent doing outbound tour-leading for 3 years throughout Borneo, Mainland Malaysia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – a span I would classified as most resourceful in accumulating tour-guiding anecdotes for me to share with fellow stakeholders and clients alike in the tourism industry. Recently, I had the privilege to be the main Tourist Guide and Speaker onboard RV Orient Pandaw, a Scottish owned Burmese cruise handling about 60 of the its 70+ cruises over 3 years in the remoteness of mighty Rejang, the longest river in Malaysia.
Whenever I am not tour-guiding, I would occupy my time designing, planning, organizing soft-skills training on hospitality and service industry. I am one of the few certified Eco-Host Trainers in Malaysia. To-date, I have conducted more than 100 talks on Leadership & Communication, Public Speaking and Tourism Courses since 1990. I believe in continuous education and I have never lose my flair to search for more knowledge, having been involved with a number of voluntary organizations. I was the PAST Hon. Chairman and Hon. Secretary, past Head of Education and Training, and Head of CTRE (Continuous Tourism Related Education) of Sarawak Tourist Guides Association. I was also the PAST Head of Education and Training of Sarawak Tourism Federation.
I am a member of Toastmasters (TM), a worldwide organization devoted to the development of effective communication and leadership skills. I am a recognised Advanced Communicator Gold (ACG) and Advanced Leadership Bronze (ALB) in Toastmasters. I have won quite a few TM public speaking championships too.
Currently, I am a member of Malaysian Nature Society (Sarawak Chapter) and Sarawak Heritage Society. Most recently, I was listed by Sarawak Convention Bureau as one of its Tribal Wisdom Speakers.
Without obligation, drop me a line if you are thinking of visiting Borneo in your next travel plan. I look forward to be of service to you soon !!!
Yours in Tourism,
Louis Jap
Spoken languages: Chinese, English