What does the Local Guides program mean to me?

A friend introduced me to the Local Guides program about one year ago. Since then, I have posted photographs and reviews almost every week and sometimes two or three times per week. The emails that I receive from Google about how many people have seen my reviews and photos are welcome reminders that I am helping others, which is what the Local Guides program means to me.

Originally from the US, I have lived in Taiwan for more than three decades. As a professional and licensed tour guide and experienced travel writer, I love promoting Taiwan and its many wonderful places, especially those that are not so well known. Moreover, as a native English speaker, I find meaning in providing useful information in English to international travelers, especially as much of the content on Google Maps in Taiwan is in Mandarin, the official language. I believe that many Taiwanese also appreciate finding out about unique places that I post, not only to try on their own, but also to bring friends or colleagues visiting from overseas.

My passion is encouraging culturally sensitive international tourists to visit Taiwan’s indigenous communities. I know that some great guesthouses, restaurants, and artisan workshops in these communities do not have the resources to promote themselves well, especially to an international audience. I am grateful for the opportunity to help raise awareness of these places through the Local Guides program. In one case, I discovered that a long-running glass bead workshop in an indigenous Paiwan community was listed on Google Maps as “permanently out of business”. I know the owners, who have greatly contributed to the preservation and revival of the traditional arts of the Paiwan tribe, and thought it strange that they would suddenly stop their work. I called and was relieved to find out that the workshop was still up and running and to be able to correct that information so that people would not be discouraged from visiting this amazing place.

To sum up, the real meaning of the Local Guides program to me is two-fold. I can provide useful information to international travelers and locals and increase exposure for businesses, communities, and destinations offering unique products, services, and experiences. The Local Guides program is a great platform for people like me who enjoy sharing what they know and love.

Sharing about millet, a traditional staple grain of Taiwan’s indigenous tribes with a group of students from Hong Kong in front of the Lalauran (Xinshanglan) Community’s Millet Workshop in southeastern Taiwan.

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