The Executive Yuan yesterday officially launched its six-year project to double the number of foreign tourists visiting Taiwan with the hope of increasing the number from the current 2.6 million to 5 million by 2008.
Addressing the ceremony held at the Executive Yuan yesterday afternoon, Premier Yu Shyi-kun, serving as the convenor of the Cabinet's tourism promotion commission, which was just formed and held its first meeting yesterday, said that the central government is determined to reach the ultimate goal of doubling the number of foreign tourists visiting Taiwan.
"A prosperous tourism industry is not only conducive to a country's economic development and job market, but also helps balance the inequality among big and small cities as well as upgrading the quality of life," he said.
In addition, boosting the tourism industry helps elevate Taiwan's international profile, Yu said.
"A well-planned tourism program is like well-applied make-up. It can make a beautiful lady more attractive," Yu said. "Taiwan has a lot of beautiful scenery. All it needs is some refinement and well-organized promotion."
As the annual number of foreign tourists visiting Taiwan is estimated to reach 2.6 million this year, Yu said the government hopes to increase the number up to 2.8 million by next year, to 3.1 million in 2004, to 3.5 million in 2005, to 4 million in 2006, to 4.5 million in 2007, and to 5 million in 2008.
To reach the goal, the government plans to team up with local hoteliers and travel agencies, said Su Cheng-tien (蘇成田), deputy director-general of the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
"We're thinking of letting private groups take care of international promotion and outsourcing," Su said.
"We'd also like to improve tourism routes and tourism quality with the help from regional hoteliers because they know first-hand about the problems of regional tourism spots."
The government will also help those who are interested in building hotels to acquire land more easily and at a reasonable price.
To ensure a pleasant living environment and landscape, Su said, the government hopes to enact a new law governing the construction of public and private structures.
In addition, the government plans to establish a rating system on hotels or hostels for consumers' easy identification.
The tourism promotion commission is scheduled to hold its second meeting at the end of October to discuss flight routes and related issues.
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