Hotels and hostels in Kenting have slashed rates in an effort to lure beachgoers, after devastating floods brought by Typhoon Haitang last week caused many vacationers to cancel their reservations.
"This is the first accident of its kind in history," said Chung Chun-tsai (
Haitang, the worst typhoon to hit Taiwan in five years, disrupted power and water services and on Tuesday washed away the Fengkang Bridge linking Pingtung County and Kenting, leaving the Hengchun Peninsula isolated.
Around 3,000 tourists who were stranded in the area began to fly home Wednesday night, and one vacationer interviewed by the media described their stay in Kenting as a "terrible experience."
The bridge was repaired on Friday.
News about the recreational haven being severely hit was broadcast nationwide for several days, prompting tourists to cancel or delay their trips there.
"Tourism operators have reported losses of around NT$200 million (US$6.25 million) these days, and their occupancy rates have slid to only 10 percent," said Chang Chi-kuang, (張積光), chairman of a strategic alliance for Hungchun Peninsula's recreational industry and general manager of the Howard Beach Resort Kenting.
Small- and medium-sized hostels were the hardest-hit.
"Between Monday and Friday last week, the cancellation rate for our hotel rooms was 100 percent. But the occupancy rate started to climb back Saturday and reached more than 50 percent [yesterday]," said an employee at the Hungpin Hotel (
The Orange Moon's Chung said that for small hostels, closing their doors for a week represents a loss of NT$100,000.
"We've received many phone calls from northern Taiwan to inquire about the situation here. Consumers have concerns," he said.
Business was also affected at five-star hotels, even though their water, electricity and Internet services remained intact as the typhoon raged across the country.
"Our occupancy rate during the peak season dropped by 20 to 30 percent last week. Customers who have booked rooms for the last week of this month have called to cancel or postpone trips till August," said Angie Hsieh (謝沂潔), a public relations official at the Caesar Park Hotel Kenting.
But the postponement will likely give a boost to the hotel's reservations for next month.
"The occupancy rate has been driven up to more than 80 percent. We're quite optimistic about business in August," she said.
To ease people's worries and secure tourism operators' bottom line, Chang's strategic alliance for the area's recreational industry on Friday decided to cut rates at five-star hotels by more than 20 percent, effective until tomorrow.
Kentington Cowboy Resort even offered 50 percent discounts until Friday, with double rooms priced at NT$2,500, the company told the Taipei Times yesterday.
Interested tourists are advised to confirm room rates in advance as the alliance's rate cuts are not mandatory.
With the worst now over, Kenting's operators hope customers will flock back to the resort.
"Kenting is sunny and comfortable. Everything is fantastic here," Chung said.
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