A Taiwan blue pheasant has prompted a large international meeting of over 2,000 experts to be held in Taiwan!
When Peter Ward, a Canadian birdwatcher, came to Taiwan to watch birds six years ago, he happened to see a Taiwan blue pheasant, which is unique to Taiwan. Ward was attracted by the bird’s beautiful blue plumage and fell in love with Taiwan’s ecology. He strongly recommended Taiwan to his wife Rabab K Ward, with the result that the IEEE Signal Processing Society is currently holding its annual meeting in Taipei, beginning last Sunday and closing tomorrow. Ecological travel has not only increased Taiwan’s international visibility, it also brings in money. With each person expected to stay for four or five days, this would bring business worth at least NT$100 million.
Ward, who has been a birdwatcher for 47 years, is an adjunct professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of British Columbia. When he visited Taiwan in 2003, he had to leave the group when nature called at the Hsuehshan Forest Road. He was dazzled when he happened to see a Taiwan blue pheasant. In 2004, when Rabab served as vice chair of the IEEE Signal Processing Society she was racking her brain on where to hold the association’s annual meeting in 2009. Ward lobbied his wife, prompting the meeting to be held in Taipei.
PHOTO: WU WEI-KUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Simon Liao, chairman of Taiwan International Birding Association, says that as everyone is concerned about the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Taiwan, they are neglecting other kinds of international tourism. Birdwatching and other kinds of ecological tourism may be a small market, but Taiwan’s bird ecology is among the best in the world, and it could increase the market for conference tourism.
Liao says birdwatching in Taiwan is becoming internationally renowned, and that in addition, many foreign birdwatchers are lawyers, teachers, accountants and other professions commanding high incomes. They may return to Taiwan or recommend it to friends and family, and that would be the best kind of promotion Taiwanese tourism could get.
(Liberty Times, Translated by Perry Svensson)
一隻藍腹鷳牽線,促成了兩千多位專家的大型國際會議在台灣舉行!
加拿大賞鳥專家彼得•瓦德六年前來台賞鳥,不經意看到台灣特有鳥類藍腹鷳,被其美麗的深藍身軀吸引,愛上台灣生態,也向太太蕾芭強力推薦台灣,進而促成國際電子工程訊號處理學會四月十九日至二十四日間在台北市舉行年會。生態旅遊不僅提高了台灣能見度,更帶來「錢」景。以每人停留四、五天計算,估計商機至少上億。
賞鳥已四十七年的彼得是加拿大卑詩大學機械系教授,二00三年來台賞鳥時,在大雪山林道因內急而脫隊,巧遇一隻公的藍腹鷳,令他驚艷。二00四年,時任國際電子工程訊號處理學會理事長的蕾芭正苦惱二00九年會舉辦的地點,他於是向妻子遊說,促成了年會在北市舉行。
國際台灣觀鳥協會理事長廖世卿表示,當大家都在關注中國觀光客有多少人來台灣,卻忽略還有其他型態的國際旅客,賞鳥等生態旅遊雖是小眾市場,但台灣的鳥類生態在世界首屈一指,可創造更大的會議觀光商機。
廖世卿說,台灣賞鳥已在國際打出名號,加上國際賞鳥人士多是高收入的律師、老師、會計師等,而且可能重遊台灣或推薦親友,將對台灣觀光帶來最佳宣傳效果。(自由時報記者李文儀、吳為恭、曾鴻儒)
Tangbao are one of the most internationally renowned delicacies, that win the hearts of both locals and tourists. Their charm lies in the paper-thin flour wrapper that needs to be folded evenly almost 20 times. Folding a tangbao requires skill to deal with a bulging filling and a thin wrapper. Tangbao are served in a bamboo steamer in which they are steamed, not only adding to the visual appearance, but ensuring they do not get cold before reaching the table. The best way to enjoy a tangbao is to dip it in a mixture of vinegar and soy sauce with
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