University students recruited to assist young backpackers

This article was published by the Taiwan Headlines on March 13, 2006. It reports that the National Youth Commission is currently working with three schools in Taiwan, to provide the "International Youth Travel Tour Buddy Service Net". The goal is to attract more young people from other countries for the "2006 Taiwan Youth Travel Year".

The three schools are the Shih Hsin University, the Chang Jung Christian University and the Taiwan Hospitality and Tourism College. Students from these universities, who are majoring in tourism and foreign languages, will provide information on the local services and attractions in their area through a Tour Buddy Service Center.

So far, the National Youth Commission are focusing on five tours - a Taste of Northern Taiwan's History, a Voyage of Northern Taiwan's Culture, an Experience of Southern Taiwan's Hospitality, the Eastern Taiwan Ocean and Bike Tour, and the Eastern Taiwan Historic Japanese Architecture Tour.

However, officials are concerned that there may not be enough volunteers to participate in the development of the youth travel market and to meet the shortage of English-speaking tour guides. The Tourism Bureau is currently considering hiring young Australians and New Zealanders as part-time guides. Would-be guides would have to have completed a course of study in their home countries and then receive a three-month training after their arrival at Taiwan. They would be paid NT$25,000 a month.

So far, the government has signed Working Holiday Agreements with Australia and New Zealand, in order to issue working holiday visas to their citizens aged between 18 and 30. The visas will allow them to work in Taiwan for up to 12 months. In order to be eligible for a working holiday visa, applicants must be a Australian or New Zealand passport holder. He or she must be able to demonstrate that they have access to at least US$4,000 in bank savings. The bank funds requirement may be eased in the near future.