61.5% of Taiwanese Travelers Now Go Independent: TutorABC Launches Self Guided Travel English Course

【Taipei, October 22】The 2026 ITF Taiwan International Travel Fair will open at Hall 1 of the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center from November 6 to 9. Marking its 40th anniversary this year, the fair brings together 123 countries and cities across 1,600 booths. The latest travel survey from the Tourism Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications shows that in 2025, 61.5% of outbound trips by Taiwanese travelers were arranged entirely by the travelers themselves without a travel agency, up 16.6 percentage points from 44.9% in 2019. The share of travelers on group tours fell from 35% to 24.4%.

Travelers are not only planning their own trips, they are increasingly handling things on the ground themselves. In Japan, the most popular destination for Taiwanese travelers, the 2026 Japan Tourism White Paper reports that 72.2% of accommodation facilities face staff shortages. With the travel industry stretched for staff, self service check in at airports, self bag drop, hotel self check in and QR code ordering at restaurants are becoming common, and when a machine gets stuck, travelers have to find someone and explain the problem in English.

To help travelers prepare before booking at the fair, TutorABC, a leading online English education brand, today launched its Self Guided Travel English Course. Purchases made before the end of the month include up to 24 one to one English lessons with live foreign instructors, so learners can practise the English they will use most when traveling on their own.

>>>【Travel Fair Special】Book a Travel English Trial via LINE

Three Moments Independent Travelers Have to Speak Up as Travel Services Go Self Service

As travelers move from group tours to arranging trips themselves, tasks once handled by tour leaders and front line staff now fall to the travelers. Drawing on the moments learners most often get stuck abroad, the TutorABC teaching and research team identifies three situations where there is no way around speaking up:

• Check in and bag drop are handled by machines, and when they fail you have to find a person: Self service kiosks and self bag drop are now standard at major airports, with fewer agents at the counter. If a machine cannot read a passport, a bag is overweight or there is a problem with a seat, travelers have to explain the situation in English to the few staff on duty.
• Hotels and restaurants are going unstaffed, so errors mean talking to an intercom or a help line: Self check in machines, self service key collection, QR code ordering and self checkout are increasingly common, with fewer staff at the front desk and on the floor. When equipment breaks down or an order goes wrong, travelers often have to explain what happened in English over an intercom, a phone line or online support, without seeing the person on the other end.
• Trips arranged independently have no travel agency to step in when plans change: On a group tour, delays and booking errors are handled by the tour leader. Travelers who arrange their own trips have to deal with airlines, booking platforms and hotels themselves for rebooking, refunds and room changes, with no one to speak for them.

>>>【Free One to One Travel English Class】Book via LINE

TutorABC Self Guided Travel English Course for Confident Communication

The TutorABC Self Guided Travel English Course is built around one to one lessons with live instructors and addresses each of the three situations directly:

• Airport and emergency scenarios to practise explaining a problem clearly: Lessons cover airport check in, hotel arrival, flight disruptions and asking for help in unexpected situations, working step by step from describing what happened and stating what you need to confirming how it will be resolved, until learners can say it on the spot.
• One to one role play with live instructors to get used to real accents and speeds: Classes are taught one to one by instructors who are all internationally certified. The instructor plays counter and service staff in a back and forth exchange and varies accent and speed, so learners get used to handling the conversation without anyone translating for them.
• Around the clock practice with ChatAI to get key phrases flowing before departure: TutorABC’s ChatAI speaking system allows unlimited scenario rehearsal 24 hours a day for preparation before class and review afterwards. Learners’ levels are assessed against the CEFR before the course starts, so those who have not spoken English in years can begin from where they are.

>>>【Travel Fair Special】Book a Travel English Trial via LINE

ITF Travel Fair Offer: Be Ready to Speak Up Before You Go

The TutorABC teaching and research team commented: “These days travelers have to do a lot themselves. Airports, hotels and restaurants have fewer and fewer staff, and when a machine gets stuck there may be only one or two people you can ask. Most trips booked at the travel fair depart in the coming months, and practising how to describe a situation and state what you need before you leave means you will not be stuck in front of a machine on the day.”

Enrolment for the TutorABC Self Guided Travel English Course is now open. Purchases made before the end of the month include up to 24 one to one English lessons with live foreign instructors, helping travelers planning their next trip build the confidence to speak up before they depart.

>>>【Free One to One Travel English Class】Book via LINE

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. I have not spoken English in years and my basics are weak. Can I still join?

Yes. Your level is assessed against the CEFR before the course starts, and the pace and materials are planned around it, so learners who have not spoken English in a long time can start from their own level and build up before departure.

Q2. What is the travel fair offer?

Purchase the TutorABC Self Guided Travel English Course before the end of the month to receive up to 24 one to one English lessons with live foreign instructors. Add the official LINE account to book a trial and consultation.

Q3. How does the course help with self service check in and unstaffed hotels?

Lessons focus on airport check in, hotel arrival, flight disruptions and asking for help, with the instructor playing counter and service staff. Learners practise describing what happened, stating what they need and confirming the solution, so they can explain the problem to a person when a machine fails.

Q4. How are lessons delivered, and how flexible is the schedule?

All lessons are taught online one to one by live instructors and can be booked flexibly around your schedule from home. The ChatAI speaking system adds unlimited scenario practice 24 hours a day before and after class.

Q5. My trip is months away. Is it too early to start?

No. Most trips booked at the travel fair depart in the coming months, which is the right window to practise describing problems, making requests and handling changes, so you will not need to look for a translator on the spot.

>>>【Free One to One Travel English Class】Book via LINE