The Ilan County government has assigned each visiting group one or two translators to serve as tour guides. What's more, over 200 college students have volunteered to help with the event, many serving as security guards outside the visitors' dorm rooms at Ilan Technical University, where the guests from every corner of the globe have free reign of the university's basketball and volleyball courts. "They treat us very well," Siani said.
While the groups are mainly here to perform, Dragan Pantelic, art director of Yugoslavia's Folk Dancer Ensemble Talija, said they are finding personal time. "We steal time and have fun." When not rehearsing, all of its members scatter and enjoy the water. "We run fast and play hard so the organizers can't find us!"
According to Ilan County government, NT$100 billion has been spent in years past preparing for promoting the 44 day-long festival. Last year's revenue reportedly contributed NT$200 million to Ilan County coffers. When asked what the expected revenue for this year should be, Liu modestly replied that it should be more than the county spent on the event.
With some 40 days of the festival remaining, and given the excitement among both attendees and international guests, the festival is on track to be a huge success.
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