Enhancing the Quality of Forest Ecotourism Guides: FANCA Launches Training and Certification System

202509/15
To enhance the quality of forest ecotourism guides and allow visitors to gain an immersive experience of the unique charm of Taiwan’s forests under professional and accurate guidance, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency (FANCA) announced the launch of the Forest Ecotourism Guide Training and Certification Program on September 15, 2025. In addition to producing 20 ecotourism guide course videos, which are available for free online to tourism practitioners and the public, the FANCA also announced the launch of a three-tier certification system (gold, silver, and bronze). Certified tour guides will receive a 30% discount on full-price admission tickets to national forest recreation areas for themselves. Those who have obtained the silver certification or above and lead groups of five or more people will also enjoy a 20% to 30% discount on the admission tickets for the group members. They will also receive discounts on designated publications and merchandise purchased at select stores within national forest recreation areas.
The FANCA stated that Taiwan has unique forest resources, and the number of tourists visiting the mountains and forests has increased in recent years; therefore, it partnered with the Taiwan Ecotourism Association to launch the “Forest Ecotourism Guide Training and Certification Program” to provide professional, accurate, and high-quality forest ecotourism guide content, establish a nationally standardized training and certification system, and offer visitors a more in-depth travel experience. Domestic experts and scholars in the fields of flora and fauna ecology, geography and geology, forestry and indigenous culture, ecotourism, as well as managers of various forest recreation sites were invited to meticulously produce 20 ecotourism guide course videos for tourism practitioners and the public to watch for free online. Beyond learning specialized knowledge about forest ecotourism, viewers can gain a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s precious forest ecosystems. For those seeking the guide certification, the program offers a three-tier professional certification: bronze, silver, and gold. The course content systematically helps tour guides to enhance their professional competencies. Certified guides receive benefits such as discounted admission tickets to national forest recreation areas managed by the FANCA. An overview of each certification tier is as follows:

1. Bronze Certification: Participants will develop foundational knowledge of forest ecotourism. Qualified participants will receive an electronic certificate and enjoy a 30% discount on full-price admission tickets to national forest recreation areas. The certification registration fee is NT$1,500 per person; groups of 20 or more receive a 10% discount.
2. Silver Certification: This indicates that the participant has acquired deeper professional competencies. Qualified participants will receive a physical certificate and limited-edition FANCA publications, and enjoy a 30% discount on full-price admission tickets to national forest recreation areas. When leading groups of five or more, group members will also receive a 20% discount on full-price admission tickets. The certification registration fee is NT$4,000 per person; groups of 10 or more receive a 10% discount.
3. Gold Certification: This professional certification is achieved through field training and assessment. Qualified participants will receive a physical certificate and selected FANCA publications, and enjoy a 30% discount on full-price admission tickets to national forest recreation areas for themselves. When leading groups of five or more, group members will also receive a 30% discount on full-price admission tickets. Those with this certification will also enjoy discounts on designated publications and merchandise purchased at shops within FANCA-designated forest recreation areas. The certification registration fee is NT$15,000 per person (transportation, accommodation, meals, and insurance for outdoor courses are charged separately; actual costs will be announced separately based on the venue).

The first 300 applicants for the Bronze Certification and the first 100 applicants for the Silver Certification will enjoy a 10% discount on the registration fee. Everyone is welcome to participate. The training and certification for this program are carried out by the Taiwan Ecotourism Association, commissioned by the FANCA. For the program content, course videos, and certification application, please visit the Forest Ecotourism Guide Training and Certification Program website (https://www.forest-ecotourism.tw/).