Taiwan welcomed 4,294,589 international visitors during the first half of 2026. That is a 2.3% increase compared with the same period in 2025.
Everywhere you look in Taipei, Kaohsiung, or Hualien, you may hear different languages around you. International visitors are exploring Taiwan’s cities, food, nature, history, and everyday life.
This gives you more opportunities to use English naturally.
You do not need to work in tourism. You do not need to memorize a long list of historical facts. You already know places that matter to you. You know which night market is worth visiting, which café is comfortable, and which neighborhood feels more interesting than a famous landmark.
The useful question is simple:
If a friend visited Taiwan for three days, where would you take them?
Why This Is a Good Time to Talk About Taiwan in English
According to Taiwan’s Tourism Administration, the first-half visitor increase was supported by Taiwan’s traditional source markets, including Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea.
There was also strong growth from Southeast Asia. Visitor numbers from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam recorded double-digit increases compared with the same period last year.
You may meet international visitors in many different situations:
- A foreign colleague visiting your office
- A partner company coming to Taiwan
- An overseas friend planning a short trip
- A customer asking what to do after a conference
- Someone sitting next to you on a train or joining a group activity
The conversation may begin with a simple question:
“What should I do in Taipei?”
That question can feel difficult when you try to answer perfectly. But you can start with what you know personally.
You can say:
- “I recommend Dihua Street because it has a mix of old buildings and modern cafés.”
- “If you like street food, you should visit a night market.”
- “I would take you to Hualien if you enjoy nature.”
- “This area is less famous, but it feels more local.”
For more practice describing daily life in Taiwan, you can also read our lesson on how convenience stores are becoming travel helpers.
The Opinion Framework: A Simple Way to Recommend a Place
When you recommend a place, do not stop after saying, “You should go there.”
Give your listener a reason to continue the conversation. The Opinion Framework helps you organize your answer:
- Opinion: Give your recommendation.
- Reason: Explain why you recommend it.
- Example: Describe something a visitor can see or do there.
- Impact: Explain what kind of experience the visitor will have.
- Invite: Ask about the other person’s interests.
Here is the basic structure:
“I recommend [place] because [reason]. For example, you can [activity or detail]. It is a good choice if you want to [experience or result]. Do you prefer [option A] or [option B]?”
This framework gives you a clear path. You do not need to create a long answer immediately.
The goal is not to sound like a tour guide. The goal is to help another person understand your recommendation.
Guided Practice: Three Real Conversation Prompts
Try answering each question out loud. First, give your own answer. Then compare it with the model response.
Prompt 1: Making a Three-Day Recommendation
Question: If a friend visited Taiwan for three days, where would you take them?
Model answer:
“I would take them to Taipei first because it is easy to combine food, history, and city views in a short trip. On the first day, we could visit Dihua Street and explore some small cafés and traditional shops. In the evening, I would take them to a night market. This itinerary gives them a good introduction to both old and modern Taiwan. What kind of places do you usually enjoy when you travel?”
Notice the progression:
- Opinion: “I would take them to Taipei first.”
- Reason: “It is easy to combine food, history, and city views.”
- Example: “We could visit Dihua Street and explore small cafés.”
- Impact: “It gives them a good introduction to Taiwan.”
- Invite: “What kind of places do you enjoy?”
Prompt 2: Comparing Tourist and Local Experiences
Question: Would you rather take an international visitor to a famous night market or a hidden alleyway café?
Model answer:
“I would probably choose a combination of both. A night market is a fun introduction to Taiwan because visitors can try many different foods in one place. However, a small alleyway café can show them a quieter side of the city. Compared with a famous tourist attraction, a local café may feel more personal and relaxed. Which experience do you think represents Taiwan better?”
Useful comparison phrases include:
- “Compared with…”
- “On the other hand…”
- “Both options are good, but…”
- “The main difference is…”
- “This feels more local because…”
Prompt 3: Recommending a Lesser-Known Spot
Question: How would you explain your recommendation for a place that is not very famous?
Model answer:
“I recommend this neighborhood because it is a hidden gem for people who want a slower experience. It is not as crowded as Taipei 101, but there are interesting old buildings, independent shops, and small restaurants. I like it because you can walk around without following a strict plan. It feels more authentic and gives visitors a better sense of everyday life in Taiwan. Would you like to explore somewhere quiet or somewhere more energetic?”
You do not need to prove that your recommendation is the “best” place in Taiwan. Explain what makes it suitable for a particular person.
Try matching places with interests:
- For food lovers: “You can try several local dishes in one evening.”
- For history lovers: “The area has many old buildings and traditional businesses.”
- For nature lovers: “It is a good place to enjoy the mountains and fresh air.”
- For people who dislike crowds: “It is quieter and easier to explore at your own pace.”
- For first-time visitors: “It gives you a simple overview of the city.”
Case Study: Mia Recommends More Than Taipei 101
Mia is a designer in Taipei. Her overseas partner firm sent two colleagues to Taiwan for a business meeting. They had one free afternoon and asked Mia for recommendations.
At first, Mia planned to suggest Taipei 101. It was familiar, easy to explain, and safe. But she wanted her colleagues to experience something more personal.
In English, she initially said:
“You can go to Taipei 101. It is famous and has a good view.”
The sentence was correct, but it did not explain why the place was right for them.
During her conversation practice, Mia used the Opinion Framework to build a fuller answer:
“Since this is your first time in Taiwan, I recommend visiting Dihua Street instead of only going to Taipei 101. Taipei 101 is an impressive landmark, but Dihua Street shows a different side of the city. You can see historic buildings, visit local stores, and stop at a modern café in the same area. I think it would give you a better balance between Taiwan’s history and its current creative culture. Would you prefer to explore on foot or visit a specific landmark?”
Mia’s colleagues chose Dihua Street. She also suggested a nearby café and a night market for dinner.
She did not need specialist knowledge of tourism. She simply described a place she knew and explained her reasoning clearly.
That is the kind of English you can use at work, while traveling, or in everyday conversations.
For another lesson about organizing your thoughts before speaking, read Teach Thinking, Not English. The same skill helps you discuss travel, work preferences, and personal opinions.
Key Vocabulary Glossary
| Term | Meaning | Example Sentence | 中文說明 |
|---|---|---|---|
| International visitors | People who travel to a country from another country. | Taiwan welcomed more international visitors in the first half of 2026. | 指來自其他國家的旅客。講台灣觀光、外國朋友或跨國活動時很常用。 |
| Source market | A country or region where visitors come from. | Japan and South Korea are important source markets for Taiwan. | 指旅客主要來自哪些國家或地區。談觀光數據時可以用，不用只說 visitors from Japan。 |
| Recommendation | A suggestion about something another person should try or visit. | My recommendation is to visit Dihua Street in the morning. | 就是推薦。當別人問你「哪裡值得去」時，可以用這個字讓語氣聽起來更完整。 |
| Local experience | An activity or visit that shows everyday life in a place. | Taking the MRT and visiting a traditional market can be a local experience. | 指比較貼近日常生活的體驗，不只是去熱門景點拍照。 |
| Itinerary | A plan for a trip, including places and activities. | I made a three-day itinerary for my friend. | 旅遊行程。要介紹幾天怎麼安排時很好用，比 trip plan 更精準一點。 |
| Hidden gem | A good place that is not widely known. | This small café is a hidden gem near the station. | 指比較少人知道、但很值得去的地方。推薦私房景點時很自然。 |
| Hospitality | Friendly and welcoming treatment of guests or visitors. | Taiwan is known for its hospitality. | 指待客熱情。描述台灣讓外國旅客感受到的親切氣氛時可以使用。 |
| Tourism recovery | The return of travel activity after a difficult period. | The increase in visitors shows Taiwan’s tourism recovery. | 指觀光產業慢慢恢復。談疫情後旅遊人數回升時很適合。 |
| Authentic | Real and connected to the original culture or everyday life of a place. | The market offers a more authentic view of local food culture. | 指真實、不太商業化的體驗。推薦在地小店或傳統市場時常會用到。 |
| Destination | A place that people travel to. | Hualien is a popular destination for visitors who enjoy nature. | 指旅遊目的地，可以是城市、景點或國家。用來避免一直重複說 place 或 spot。 |
Ready to Talk About Taiwan with More Confidence?
You already know interesting places in Taiwan. The next step is learning how to explain your ideas clearly in English.
Start small:
- Choose one place you know well.
- Give your opinion.
- Explain your reason.
- Add one personal example.
- Ask the other person a question.
You do not need perfect English before you begin. You need a safe place to practice speaking, make mistakes, and try again.
At IMCEnglish.com, one-on-one conversation lessons help you turn the English you have studied for years into English you can actually use for work, travel, and real conversations.
If you do not like the first lesson, you do not have to pay.
Book your one-on-one conversation lesson with IMCEnglish.com and leave each session feeling more capable than before.
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