Local News

Fukuoka City and the Kyushu Tourism Promotion Organization, under chairman Susumu Ishihara, have co-applied for the deregulation of foreign tour guides and interpreters in the Kyushu area. Under current Japanese law, foreign tour guides are required to hold a Japanese national certificate of qualification. However, Kyushu is experiencing a shortage of Korean and Chinese interpreters/guides. As part of the deregulation proposal, KTPO and Fukuoka City have suggested that the qualification exam in Kyushu area only should be easier, and the limit of working hours for foreigners should be extended from the current 28h/week. If the deregulation movement is passed, there will be benefits for both tourists and foreign residents of Kyushu. Tourists to Kyushu will experience more comfort with native-speaker guides, whilst foreign students may be given the opportunity to further enhance their knowledge of Kyushu’s history and culture, to work officially as guides/interpreters. Both Fukuoka City and KTPO previously applied for the deregulation in 2011, however both were passed over. This time, they have collaborated and applied as one team to push for the deregulation. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 10/1