`Cross-Penghu Bay Swim' held to promote tourism

Some 1,300 people from around the nation took part in an event yesterday called the "Cross-Penghu Bay Swim" to promote tourism on the islands.

Penghu County Commissioner Lai Feng-wei (賴烽偉), accompanied by a swimming coach, jumped into the sea first at around 6am to kick off the cross-bay swimming event.

Swimmers, including 20 physically-challenged people from Taipei, joined Lai in two groups for distances of 3km and 6km.

Penghu Bay is near Makung, the capital of Penghu.

Lin Hsin-wei, 10, a visually impaired student who took part in the "cross-Sun Moon Lake swim" last year, was the youngest swimmer to participate.

Pei Cheng-chien, 70, from Liuchia township, Tainan County, was the oldest swimmer.

Addressing the event, the first of its kind ever held in the island county, Lai called on the nation to travel to Penghu to enjoy its clear blue skies, deep blue water, year-around sunshine and beaches.

Lai said although Penghu's tourism has noticeably declined in recent months the Penghu government and people are not daunted in their determination to rejuvenate the offshore county's tourism by promoting water-related activities.

One of the reasons attributed to the decline in visitors is the May 25 crash of China Airlines flight CI116.

The plane crashed in waters off of Penghu, killing all 225 passengers and crew aboard.