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Taiwan has fallen off the tourism world's map

The prominent "UN for Taiwan" poster hanging outside the Taipei Main Station is not surprising, considering the popularity of the UN bid. However, as English has not become the official language of Taiwan, it naturally targets a foreign audience. If we are to step out into the world, we obviously must broadcast to the world. Yet, how many foreigners -- especially European and North Americans -- are actually in Taiwan? Does the government agency responsible for the sign know the figures?

Over the past decade I have traveled to Europe every year or so on KLM, and each trip has been a cause for sorrow. During high summer, the flights are packed each way. Seats between Amsterdam and Taipei are difficult to acquire even in September, with economy class packed to capacity.

Ten hours after leaving Amsterdam, the plane makes a brief stop in Bangkok, journey's end for most of the tourists on the flight. Those who re-embark are mostly Taiwanese. At Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport the disembarkation is desolate, with few foreigners and many businessmen. Just before reaching customs, passengers pass duty-free sales persons pitching alcohol and tobacco. The merchants' plight deserves sympathy, though I have seldom witnessed such scenarios in the airports of Europe or China.

The Tourism Bureau recently admitted that Taiwan is not attracting tourists. Because of a continuing decline of tourist arrivals in Taiwan, the bureau intends to reduce the target of next year's "Double Tourism Plan" by 4 million, with an expected loss of NT$10 billion (US$310 million) to NT$20 billion for the local tourism industry.

Those who frequently travel abroad may have already noticed that Taiwan does not exist on the world tourism map. Western travel agencies provide packages to South Korea, Japan, Thailand and other Asian countries, but not Taiwan. Tourists are not interested in Taiwan, and well-known hotel chains such as the Marriott have established themselves in Beijing and Shanghai, but not here. The Hilton chain, with 2,800 locations worldwide, pulled out of Taiwan several years ago.

What is the problem? Of course promotions must be reinforced, but not only by employing Yankee pitcher Wang Chien-ming (王建民) or boy music group F4 as spokespersons. Although a well-known tourism magazine in the US recently announced that Taiwan's scenery is beautiful, do we really believe that we have such a beautiful island? Who would come here just to see the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, Taroko National Park, or to taste night market delicacies? Our public facilities are just third-world standard, while our natural environment cannot compare with that of Thailand or Malaysia.

Taiwanese architecture is represented by a horribly tacky amalgamation of metallic windows, water towers and ceramic tiles. A couple of years ago, a Japanese tourist's open criticism of Puli Township (埔里) in Nantou County caused public outrage, yet he seems to be the honest child pointing to the emperor's new clothes.

Years of traveling have confirmed that even if Taiwan is not a member of the UN, its passport-holders can still travel the world, while citizens of the "peacefully rising" China -- a member of the UN Security Council -- still have difficulty obtaining European visas. As a tourist, I have never felt that my nation's dignity was under attack. Yet, the fact that foreigners are unwilling to come to Taiwan still brings a sense of isolation and unease.

Those who are working on the hopeless bid to join the UN while crying "I love Taiwan" slogans should perhaps consider why Taiwan has vanished from the map of world tourism.

Huang Jui-ming is an associate professor of law at Providence University.

Translated by Angela Hong
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