The Local Guides program has influenced me significantly since I was just a tourist/backpacker four years ago. To me, being a Local Guide means useful information, an achievement, and a feedback mechanism.
The first and most important reason is that when I would like to travel alone and started planning a travel itinerary four years ago, people from all over the world gave me an increasing number of different valuable knowledge and experiences on the Local Guides. On account of this useful information which they have experienced and the recorded and written content in person, it was less likely to have advertising and sales promotion. This credibility was more convincing, allowing me to plan each different trip/travel more efficiently, in addition, I picked out my favorite activities and scenery from everyone’s sharing.
What is more, learn about the local people’s perspective and opinions on the local area, especially the part of my country, so that not only can the authorities improve and promote the tourism industry, but also it can drive other industries in the entire country and make the world see Taiwan, for example, cultural customs and cultural creative industries, famous local products, etc. What is also worth noticing is that from a beneficiary’s perspective four years ago to a helper’s perspective, this role changing has given me a large quantity of sense of accomplishment to help people! No one can neglect and deny that it’s more blessed to give than to receive and true happiness is joy given to others. As I have benefited from the help of this program, I want to provide and help people who have assistance. Even if I only have a simple photo and a little advice at the beginning, I can feel very satisfied and Sharing happily; on the other hand, giving timely assistance and making friends from all over the world is also a source of my sense of achievement. when people using the Local Guides or local stores have any questions to ask and give feedback to customers, whether it is a good experience or bad experience enables them to get vital and beneficial advice and guide their decisions. For instance, I used to go to a restaurant called HOSHINA UDON. My friends and I commented on the ramen we ordered and wrote down our thoughts and expectations for this restaurant. Owing to the reason I think it may be, by leaving reviews to provide proprietors and people who want to try and explore new things a good many progression and choices.
It is undeniable that being a Local Guide, I have gotten a feedback mechanism that I am fond of. The monthly email gives feedback of review about how many people I’ve assisted. Specifically, potential users from foreign asked me some details about those experiences and exchanged their points of view led me to know each other sometimes. One of my foreign friends from Local Guides, who comes from a poor family in Africa, and said that because of this sharing, even now she cannot go somewhere else, but she also is able to get a variety of knowledge and resources from this program which she appreciated. These reasons motivated me to share more and more contributions ecstatically.
To sum up, Local Guides not only shows our differences while also uniting us by what we have in common. Furthermore, the innovation of the program shortens the distance between people in the world.