Taipei Times
Date: Sep 05, 2016
By: Kan Chih-chi and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writer

The Tourism Bureau wants to simplify the qualification process for tour guides in preparation for more tourists from Southeast Asia, which is part of the government’s “new southbound policy.”

However, industry sources said the efforts have been stymied due to the lack of guides competent in Southeast Asian languages.

Industry leaders met recently to discuss changes to regulations surrounding the certification of tour guides, such as no longer requiring guides to pass tests in the languages of groups they are assigned to; they only need to be competent in English or Mandarin.

Last month the government launched trial one-month visa-free entry for tourists from Thailand and Brunei.     [FULL  STORY]