The government has big plans to promote tourism in eastern Taitung and will strive to raise the area to international tourism standards.
The central government has earmarked NT$1.8 billion over the next two years to promote tourism in the east, according to the East Coast National Scenic Area (ECNSA, 觀光局東管處) under the Tourism Bureau.
"Our goal is to develop Taitung and Hualien into a sightseeing point with depth," said Huang Yin-king (
PHOTO: COURTESY OF ECNSA
Commonly known for its "unspoiled natural surroundings" among locals, Taitung has many things to offer such as coastal views and indigenous Amis (
Currently, visitors can also enjoy other activities such as hotspring baths at Chihpen (知本), bike rides within Kuanshan Park (關山公園), beach play at Shanyuan Bay (杉原灣) and sea cruises from Shiauyeliou (小野柳) to Sanshintai (三仙台).
But those attractions aren't enough, Huang said. In the future tourists will find it hard to ignore the eastern part of Taiwan and will make the area a part of any travel itinerary, the official said.
Hualien Ocean Park (
Seven other development projects and resort facilities -- all located along Taitung's coastline -- are scheduled to start operations by 2006 to welcome visiting crowds.
"Each of these projects will provide ... at least 200 to 300 rooms and be three to four-star hotels," Huang added, saying the development would ease a dearth of accommodations.
Huang said Taitung's accommodations are greatly "polarized" and choices are limited. There are five-star hotels at one end or no-frills private guesthouses at the other.
Once the coastal resort villages and hotels are built, he said, a wider range of accommodation choices will be available.
But before tourism in Taitung can pick up, officials say the local government has much work to do.
For example, many hotels are overpriced and the traffic is chaotic on the weekends, said Yu Chuan-wang (
To encourage weekday tourists, Yu said hoteliers and airlines should cooperate with each other and offer package tours at a special discount of 40 percent to 45 percent.
"To be reasonable, the average price of hotel rooms should be cut by 20 percent," Yu said, adding that prices would likely be cut only if weekday occupancy rates increase.
To deal with busy weekends, when tourists flood the area, Yu said small-scale inns -- similar to bed and breakfasts -- have been developed to accommodate the crowds.
Transportation is another issue that bothers many tourists who want to visit the region. By plane, train or automobile, the trip is long and arduous.
"We've mapped out several transit routes between the airport and the harbor," Huang said, though other measures are in the works to alleviate transportation headaches.
In addition, Taitung City is expected to complete an expansion project at Taitung Airport by year's end. The city has put up NT$50 million toward the project.
"With an additional space of 1,000 pings, the to-be-expanded airport will be up to the standards of a modern airport," Taitung Mayor Lai Kuen-cheng (
Today, airport passengers must walk across its tarmac to reach their plane. There's also no luggage claim, he said. As a result, arriving passengers wait by their planes for luggage trucks to bring them their personal belongings.
Though Hualien and Taitung are blessed with rich natural resources, failing to consider the environment would squander any efforts to promote the local tourism industry.
During his tour last week, Vice Premier Lin Hsin-yi (
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