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Nation missing tourist goal

Tourism authorities have admitted that it will be hard to reach the government's goal of attracting 3.2 million tourists to Taiwan this year, after first-quarter number were more than 20 percent short of the official target.

According to Su Cheng-tien (蘇成田), director-general of the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the nation needs to increase its appeal and provide incentives to entice foreign visitors.

In view of the smaller-than-expected number of foreign tourists in the first quarter, Su acknowledged that greater challenges lie ahead if his bureau is to accomplish the annual target set by the Executive Yuan, which has designated this year as "Taiwan Tourism Year."

Although various agencies have made worked with the Executive Yuan to provide things such as free visits to the National Palace Museum, free one-day bus tours of Taipei and high-profile promotional campaigns abroad, Su said that some unexpected events had reduced foreign arrivals in Taiwan.

The turmoil following the presidential election, the bird flu outbreak, the reappearance of SARS and threats of terrorist attacks have all taken their toll on the tourist industry.
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