backseat
We have been researching a possibility to start a niche guided tour business and have found several issues, and it's very hard to find any information online so help is really appreciated. I'm new here, so sorry I could not include direct links.First, it seems that it is not possible to start new "Travel Agencies" (search "Bali News: Keeping it Legal").This seems quite odd, and surely I could not find any formal information on goverment sites... anyone can confirm that it is so black and white (which it rarely is down there, right)? Or probably it is needed to "sub-license" some existing travel agency license...?Where could I find any information about such licenses anyway? What kind of laws there are regarding guided tours? It seems that there needs to be atleast one local person, what else? Regarding the company itself: in many countries it is possible to buy empty ready companies, I could not find any information how that goes in Indonesia/Bali? If the company is established, it seems notary is the way to go, right? What help I need(practically speaking) addition to notary?Thanx for any advise!
coco's
Hi,You can get a license for your new travel agent from broker, they will help you to do the bureaucracy in government office. Believe me, even Indonesian (local) people they need this kind of services. And about guide, you must use local people (government only gives licenses to local guide). However, if you don't want to use local guide...it's still OK, just like some travel agent did.Good luck!
Markit
Just a silly question but what makes you think that Bali needs another guided tour company? There are thousands and thousands of Mades, Ketuts and Wayans all standing around, many speaking Japanese, Korean and yes, even English, motors reving and rabidly waiting to attack just about anyone that appears even remotely to be considering taking a tour anywhere in the Indonesian achipelago. How's about you get here and look around and even try (shssssss! without a license, just, you know...experimentally) your business idea before going to some expensive agency or buying some useless license? Just an idea. :O) Markit
SHoggard
I'm with Markit on this.What sort of 'niche' are you looking at that you feel isn't currently being served by thousands of locals,or expats with years of local knowledge?There are already overseas tour agencies who fly in tourists from every country in the world on guaranteed Balinese -free package tours where they never actually have to speak to a local. The Chinese/Korean/Japanese island bus tours (spotting the nationalities stumbling along the pavement in crocodile-file from the balcony at Nomad is a popular Ubud sport) there are also white water rafting, diving, yachting, temple, rice paddy, rural village, volcano, dance, art, yoga, flower arranging, cooking and, yes, even sex tours..... and if there's a niche not listed, as Markit, mentioned there are the flocks of multilingual ambidextrous Mades Ketuts and Wayans perched waiting to pounce on any sweating passing bule cawing 'transport, transport' who will be only too happy to invent a tour.Ok... so most of it might seem chaotic, unregulated, under promoted, but it exists in all shapes and forms & if you can't find exactly what tour you're looking for just ask the hotel receptionist.Maybe do some practical research, dip your toe in the water, suck it and see, before buying the license.That said, THE one tour that I haven't seen advertised is a pub-crawl ..... woopse, the cat's out of the bag, my business idea blown, Markit's already printing up the flyers & setting up the website as I type these words..... starts at Ducks Nuts ....... damn there goes another million dollar business plan!
sakumabali
re getting the license, I HEARD and read that you can't get any new license for a travel / tour agency any more in bali, dunno if it's true but government said they will close the sleeping / bankrupt agencies first and then they might sell them again to new investors....
SamD
That said, THE one tour that I haven't seen advertised is a pub-crawl ..... woopse, the cat's out of the bag, my business idea blown, Markit's already printing up the flyers & setting up the website as I type these words..... starts at Ducks Nuts ....... damn there goes another million dollar business plan![/QUOTE]You are not trying hard enough....[url=http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/ShowUserReviews-g608487-d2213101-r115647001-Ricky_s-Legian_Bali.html]small and peaceful - Ricky's, Legian Traveller Reviews - TripAdvisor[/url]
SHoggard
Damn... that was MY IDEA..... I need to lawyer-up !
divewench
There is a pub crawl from the Cavern Bar in Sanur every Monday night! They call it the 'Mystery tour' at AUS$10 per head, sorry cannot add link as I'm a newbie poster![url]http://www.beatlescavernbali.com[/url]
Markit
Help me out here folks, why do people need (paid) help staggering from one boozer to the next - or is this some weird Ozzy thing to help navigate around man-eating dingos, poisonous kiwala bears and such like? Christ-on-a-Bike the boozers in Kuta are next to each other - the trick is to miss them not hit.
SHoggard
Markit, I wrote this up into a business plan, and I would share it with you.... but I left it in a pubsorry mate, I'm as clueless as you
Markit
I get the feeling we've kinda discouraged our theader as he/she/it "heshit" has not returned after the great business plan saw the grey and awful light of day. Happens a lot. Can't understand it really as we were all so supportive. Must have been SHoggard's fault with all that loose talk of lawyers, phewy, spit, hate the bastards!
SHoggard
Careful, Markit or I might have to show you my briefs
backseat
There is a pub crawl from the Cavern Bar in Sanur every Monday night! They call it the 'Mystery tour' at AUS$10 per head, sorry cannot add link as I'm a newbie poster![/QUOTE]That was our idea indeed. For some reason we could not find any on the internet... (ok, those two mentioned seems to exist).But it looks like no-one knows about if the licences are issued or not, and if they are, how is it working and what are the costs...
no.idea
I have no idea why you would want or even need a licence to take people out for a beer. I actually do this almost every day of the year.The idea for the Cavern Bar Magical Mystery Tour evolved during a conversation between myself and the owner of the place.The reason I take people around on a tour is to show them parts of Sanur they would never know existed. Many tourists come and never get to see Sanur.Many people who live here would never have had a cold beer at Sweet Magnolia, Isara, The Overflow, Black Ink, BBB, Bamboo, Gardenia, The BRE, Titi's, The Cavern, Linga Longa, Sanur Bay, The Senia, Angels, Sweethearts, Cemara Beach, Nutz, Warung Kesari or the Jazz Bar. There are a number of other places but those mentioned will always have cold beer.There are number of bars in Sanur where you can drive your car almost to the beach, park it and enjoy a palate cleansing ale or two.
Markit
Ok if it was me:1) I would approach the target pubs/clubs/warung of your proposed "crawl" and see what they offer as commissi. 2) Print up a bunch of posters advertising said "crawl" maybe with a draw like beautiful girls "guiding". 3) Make the ticket price a donation to whatever - Kupu Kupu malam retirement fund or a drinks kitty. 4) Stand back and see if it works - the kitty pays for your girls and the commissi pays you. If done on an amateur basis can't imagine that licenses or permits would be necessary at least in the initial stages?
backseat
I have no idea why you would want or even need a licence to take people out for a beer. I actually do this almost every day of the year.[/QUOTE]The point is ofcourse, if that is considered as "tourism" / "tour guide" etc. business - it isn't just a few friends of yours but tourist business operation.As there is no formal information available (which I could find), I'm out here asking for the advice :-)The idea for the Cavern Bar Magical Mystery Tour evolved during a conversation between myself and the owner of the place.The reason I take people around on a tour is to show them parts of Sanur they would never know existed. Many tourists come and never get to see Sanur.Many people who live here would never have had a cold beer at Sweet Magnolia, Isara, The Overflow, Black Ink, BBB, Bamboo, Gardenia, The BRE, Titi's, The Cavern, Linga Longa, Sanur Bay, The Senia, Angels, Sweethearts, Cemara Beach, Nutz, Warung Kesari or the Jazz Bar. There are a number of other places but those mentioned will always have cold beer.There are number of bars in Sanur where you can drive your car almost to the beach, park it and enjoy a palate cleansing ale or two.[/QUOTE]Your tour looks like interesting tour and it's interesting topic, but regarding the formal issues, you actually know that any special business licence is not required?Because for some reason "travel agency license" is required - for what kind of operations it is required then?
SHoggard
I think at the very least to apply for any type of license you'd need the following:-- A legally registered business that specifies Tours & Tourism related services- An authorised place of business- A KITASPossibly also some proven expertise in the field, possibly a professional qualification - as opposed to being a bloke who likes a drink & knows a few pubs.
Markit
Ok, I think its fair to say all the illustrious and learned contributors to this thread (presuming the permission of their mutual and/or respective wives) are willing to accompany you on a fact finding mission around Sanur. You pay, I org the girls (found my new calling)!
SHoggard
Markit if you are 'organising' the girls... please ensure that their uniforms are appropriate - there are plenty of threads here on the forum to help you find a supplier (the uniforms - not the girls)If you need any assistance in making the selection (either uniforms, girls or both) I'm 1st in line
no.idea
If you need any assistance in making the selection (either uniforms, girls or both) I'm 1st in line[/QUOTE]Are you first in line for a uniform or a girl?I already have the girls, so that bit is easy. They are easy to arrange. I already know where to get the cold beer. So that bit is also easy.Grab this week's Sanur Weekly and check the Aunt Mary column. This will give you an idea of things that actually do happen here.
