Is there demand for Mandarin speaking expats?

[hmsam]

Hi

I'm planning to stay in Bali for a considerable long period. I also plan to find a job on the island to supplement the living/travelling expenses. I'm wondering if there's demand for Mandarin speaking workers on the island. I've read that tourist arrival is climbing steadily, with visitors from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan on the rise. I am fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Will it be easy for me to find a job in the hosipitality or service industry? I could also do translation in these languages.

If there's such demand, I'd appreciate any referrals or contacts.

Thanks!

Min

[Bert Vierstra]

Well we could alway do a test in Mandarin right?

Why don't you make a nice text (in Mandarin AND English AND Indonesian) explaining what you can do and we take it from there?

I put this on one of my sites, with a contact form, and we wait?

[Roy]

Yes Min, there is a need...specifically as a tutor. Besides myself, there are a number of expats in the Ubud area who would dearly love for their children to learn to read, write and be conversant in Mandarin.

Personally, I regard Mandarin as the second most important world language. As the some one and one half billion people of China continue to emerge on the world market, this language becomes ever so more increasingly important.

Imagine your son or daughter with an MBA from Harvard, Yale or the University of Pennsylvania...AND being 100% fluent in Mandarin! Talk about the world being your oyster, hell, it would almost be handed to you on a silver platter by any number of Fortune 500 companies.

If you are serious, then please send me a private message, and we can continue this discussion.

[Gazer]

Hi Min

I am new on this forum. Like you, I hope to learn more about Bali from the regular posters who have such a wealth of knowledge and willing to share. I am also doing research with a view to consider living in Bali.

I couldn't agree more with Roy his views on the rise of China and its potential economic impact globally, and particularly our part of the world and what it means for the younger generation. Specifically in regard to Bali, I think your command of Mandarin, Cantonese and English could potentially more than cover your expenses. If we look at the waves of Asian tourists coming out into SE Asia first, and then the world, in the last 40 years, the first wave were the Japanese, followed later by the Taiwanese and Koreans. The Chinese are now coming out in droves to Hong Kong, Macau (which registered 10 million visitors last year, mostly Chinese), Malaysia, Singapore... ..Indonesia, Australia, NZ(?). I think Chinese tourist arrivals are just a trickle now compared to the potential. But don't expect high-spending Chinese tourists just yet. For businesses, the money will be in the scale and volume of trade.

Having said all these, and rambling so much, allow me just to add my concerns for the impact on the cultural and physical environment that big volume tourism can have. I love Bali the way it is and I hope that all its visitors and enterprises will respect Bali and its people for what they are and not seek to change the island to suit the wants of tourists and business. No thank you! I saw a picture of the Nikko Bali yesterday and I must say it was quite a painful sight.

I am also a keen observer of the changing power relationships arising from, and the fundamental adjustments to the rise of China but that's another story. Won't bore anyone here but I will be happy to engage in private discussion.

Good luck Min.

Gazer

[Roy]

Gazer! A great post...but don't you dare go "PM" (private messages), with future discussions. The fact is, what goes on all over Asia and SE Asia impacts our lives here in Bali, either directly or indirectly. So, please share with all of us!

Bert, the "boss" hates political discussions, but frank talk about what is going on in Asia, and SE Asia is very relative to Bali.

As far as the tourism crunch goes, the fact is, ASEAN tourists and the Japanese have really taken over in recent years. As the criminal, Martha Stewart would say..."that is a good thing." And it is.

Just ask any Balinese sister, cousin, or aunt you might have that is in the restaurant or hotel business. They will all tell you how polite, quiet, calm, understanding and generous this "new" crop of tourists are. Not really a "new" crop, as they have been coming for years, but never have they toped the list of most frequent visitors to Bali, as they have for all of the past three years.

[Gazer]

Yes Sir, Roy. I promise to post any thought that may be useful and relevant. I will be more than happy to be able to add value to any ongoing discussions where I can. Promise! :wink:

I am glad to learn that ASEAN and Japanese tourists have been coming in bigger numbers and contributing significantly to the economy in the last 3 years. I am very happy to hear that. We were holidaying in Bali in the Christmas of 2003, staying in Ubud, Sanur and Seminyak. There were hardly any tourists. Even the usually pristine beaches of the Oberoi and Legian were left littered and filthy (I didn't think it had anything to do with the waves at the time of the year. Looked more like cost-cutting). It was not the cheerful Bali that I knew, let alone for the Balinese and others who depended on tourist spendings. I'd thought the economy was devastated.

Please don't get me wrong about the 'new tourists'. I am Singaporean, and Chinese. My concern relates to what big business are capable of doing in bringing in big numbers of visitors in pursuit of profits with less than desired regard for the impact on the environment. Take the case of Macau, which I last visited in November. It is a much much smaller area than Bali and has a population of 450,000. Because of recent relaxation on travel by Chinese government, Macau was suddenly overwhelmed with millions of visitors from the mainland. In 2004, vistor numbers shot up to 10 million. There are only 6000 hotel rooms. In the second quarter, GDP grew 47%. If the arrival numbers keep galloping ahead as I expect they would what with more casinos opening, I dread to think how the little city's infrastructure and essential services would cope. Such sudden spikes are also causing all kinds of problems for the economy which will persist in the shortrun.

And God forbid. I hope nobody will ever suggest having casinos in Bali. This is currently the debate in Singapore (which I suspect is motivated by the fear of not getting its share of Chinese tourists). The idea of a casino in Bali is not far-fetched as Batam already has one and another is being developed on Bintan. Casino business was for a long time strictly disallowed in Indonesia. Beware how the world adapts for money. I am not puritanical but the benefits from certain actions will never offset their true costs. OK get off my high horse.

Actually, Min could do a great job and business by promoting 'cultural tourism' to Chinese tourists. Equip a group of quality Mandarin-speaking guides with sound knowledge of Balinese culture, Hinduism, and all things Balinese. At the same time, deploy a team of consultants to advise local establishments and business on how best to cater for Chinese tourists.

Business opportunity anyone :?:

Cheers :)

Gazer

[Irislahay]

I hope nobody will ever suggest having casinos in Bali

I've seen some, two years ago in Denpasar. If they are still open and you want to visit them, please doing sport especially running first, to prepare yourself when the police come :lol: :lol:

[Gazer]

That's funny Iris. lol. I have seen such sights but not in Denpasar. People running in all directions, knocking tables and chairs over... :lol:

Hope to see you and Olivier in May.

Gazer

[Roy]

Just a bit of an exaggeration here, regarding “casinos” in Bali. There are none. Some Chinese restaurants along the Jalan Bypass have “special services” for Chinese tourists, which include both the corporal and monetary games people play…but there are NO casinos in Bali. If not Chinese, it’s tough, if not impossible, to get into these establishments.

There was some serious talk about two or three years ago with that Hong Kong magnate, “what’s his name?”….Mr. Stanley Ho?…about the possibility of a casino to be established on Nusa Penida, but, (thanks to the Gods) that all fell apart.

The most basic form of gambling on Bali, one that anthropologists would call “cultural” is cock fighting. Since the office of Chief of Police was handed over to General I Made Pastika, that has all changed too. General Pastika, a Balinese by birth, was orphaned as a young boy due to gambling debts, (by his father) and has a particular interest in seeing this social problem eradicated in Bali.

Gazer, I am more than just a little familiar with Macau. Years ago, I was involved in a marine archaeological excavation of the outer harbor, the one facing Hong Kong. That was back in the late 1970’s. Having returned to Macau last year, I was appalled. The entire inner harbor had been filled in, and the “development” of that once delightful waterfront was disgusting. I was also shocked to see the great number of Russian prostitutes working the streets. All the old casinos were re-built. The “star” the Lisboa was unrecognizable.

My only “warm and fuzzy” feeling, the feeling one gets when they are “home” was at the Club Militarie” which thank the Gods, hasn’t changed a bit.

If what has happened to Macau ever comes to pass in Bali, we will all be long gone. But, knowing the Balinese as well as I do, I only give that chance one in a million odds!

[Gazer]

Glad to know the idea of a casino in Nusa Penida didn't take root. Yes, Mr Stanley Ho had the monopoly of the casino industry in Macau until the Venetian Group came onto the scene with their giant Sands Casino. There are probably 20 casinos there luring millions of Chinese visitors, and more being built.

It doesn't sound like you are likely to visit Macau again anytime soon Roy. Most interesting that you were involved in archeological excavation of the harbour in the 70s. I can't imagine what it was like then, having only been to Hong Kong in those days.

If what has happened to Macau ever comes to pass in Bali, we will all be long gone. But, knowing the Balinese as well as I do, I only give that chance one in a million odds!

That's assuring. :)

Gazer