Tour guides in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province are very happy because more tourists from other countries are visiting this year.
China has made it easier for tourists to visit by allowing people from 38 countries to enter without a visa for up to 30 days. This change has caused many more travelers to come from different parts of the world.
There are not enough tour guides who speak foreign languages, so travel companies in Zhangjiajie have had to turn down some groups because they are too busy.
Wang Xiaoqing, who has been an English tour guide in Zhangjiajie for more than 10 years, said she has been very busy since March. She works almost every day and only gets a short rest once in a while. She says she loves her job and enjoys meeting people from different countries. Some tourists come back or tell their friends and family about her service, which makes her very happy.
Ding Shibiao, a manager at Hunan Star Tours said all of their tour guides with foreign language skills have been busy since April. Many tourists from Western countries are visiting Zhangjiajie now, and the need for guides who can speak English, French, and Spanish is very high. Finding enough guides is hard, so Ding sometimes has to help out himself.
Li Ping, the head of the Zhangjiajie tourism guide association, said that this year, the number of foreign tourists visiting the city is expected to be the highest ever. Zhangjiajie has 400 licensed guides, but there are about 1, 500 people with foreign language skills who help out too. Tour guides now make more money, with some making up to 800 yuan a day.
Zhangjiajie is happy to see so many travelers coming to enjoy its beautiful nature and culture.
