Although the first black tuna was caught about one month ago, the black tuna season has its official commencement today. The Black Tuna Festival (
Last year, the event focused almost exclusively on tours for which the highpoint was feasting upon flesh of the black tuna, which is one of the great delicacies for those who fancy raw fish. Although this continues to be the main draw for the event, the tourism bureau has responded to public demand this year to broaden the activities associated with the event.
PHOTO: PINGTUNG COUNTY GOVERNMENT
The most important difference from last year is that the one and two-day tours will not be restricted to the weekends, and many events will be open to tourists traveling outside the tours. Black tuna is known to many in Taiwan as "black gold" for the top quality belly meat off a good specimen is virtually worth its weight in gold.
In a Japanese sushi bar, the meat goes by the name of "toro" and can sell for as much as NT$5000 to NT$600 for a single piece.
Many local restaurants are joining in the project with special deals and the customers can be assured of getting the best quality as, over this period, both the Tourism Bureau and the Pingtung County Government are providing certifications to those that provide outstanding service and quality.
For those not on an organized tour, a special bus has been organized to help people get around. In an effort to broaden the overall appeal to tourists and increase the total value of Pingtung tourism, a number of combination tours have also been arranged, combining the attractions of fine dining with other tourism resources such as its golf facilities, paragliding at nearby Saijia, tours focusing on Aboriginal beads and on Hsiao Liuchiu, a still largely unexplored sight.
The black tuna festival follows in the wake of the Kenting Wind-Bell Festival, another effort by the government to build up tourism in one of Taiwan's most attractive and rural areas. Catering to the love of food and drink, the Black Tuna Festival proved much more successful last year than the wind-bell festival and the government hopes that the county's other festivals will also receive a boost.
Bookings for the variety of tours on offer can be made at http://www.eztravel.com.tw or by calling Eztravel at (02) 8770-7480. More information can also be obtained from the Pingtung County Government at (08) 738-5401.
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