The opening of the record-breaking Hsuehshan Tunnel (雪山隧道) has greatly reduced the travel time between Taipei and Ilan, but not all tourism operators in Ilan County will benefit, industry veterans said yesterday.
The has shortened the driving time between Taipei and Ilan from two hours to around 30 minutes -- a reduction hailed as a golden opportunity for boosting the county's economy.
Ilan is known for its hot springs, scenic beauty and seafood delicacies, with a massive number of small-scale hotels and hostels established to cash in on the holiday trade.
PHOTO: CNA
Restaurants will be the biggest beneficiary of the more convenient travel time, according to Ilan County Government.
"Ilan has 13 harbors. Gourmets can savor fresh and `value for money' seafood shipped back every day for a quarter of the price charged in Taipei," said Yiu Wen-hsiang (游文祥), director general of the county government's business and travel bureau, during a phone interview.
He expects many Taipei residents to travel to Ilan for dinner, even on weekdays, and drive back home the same night.
Ilan received 3.5 million tourists last year, thanks to the local government's successful marketing strategies, which promoted activities such as the Ilan International Children's Folklore and Folkgame Festival and the Ilan Green Expo.
To celebrate the launch of the tunnel, the county's more than 200 tourism operators, including 35 hotels, 50 hostels, 15 leisure farms and 6 government-run scenic resorts, have joined hands to offer discounts or free entry until next Thursday.
But for some, this is not all good news, said Roget Hsu (許高慶), secretary general of the Travel Agent Association of Taiwan (旅行公會全國聯合會).
"When traffic is not convenient, hotels' occupancy rates usually go up. Now the situation may be the opposite," he noted.
While most might skip staying overnight in Ilan when traveling between Taipei and Hualien in eastern Taiwan, Hsu urged the county's hotel operators to focus on promoting one-day tour packages while improving the quality of their leisure and entertainment facilities to tap into potential customers in central and southern Taiwan.
Carrie Li (李慧珊), director of sales and marketing at Hotel Royal Chiao Hsi in Ilan, echoed his view.
She said the launch of the tunnel turns Ilan into a virtual suburb of Taipei and that the hotel market would have an opportunity to attract hot spring lovers who could choose Ilan over the capital's Beitou, Wulai and Yangmingshan regions.
"Small hotels may need to make adjustments and increase the ratio of their leisure services, rather than simply offering accommodation," she said.
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