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Taiwan joins hostel group

The International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) has accepted the Chinese Taipei Youth Hostel Association of Taiwan as a member, a spokesman for the local association said yesterday.

The federation's members agreed unanimously to Taiwan's entry into the federation at its 46th annual global conference held in the Swiss town of Davos on Sunday, the spokesman said.

Noting that the local hostel association was the first organization to promote backpacking in Taiwan, the spokesman said that with formal IYHF membership, Taiwan will be able to engage in formal dialogue with the international community and offer Taiwan's members more travel information and discounts.

In addition to accepting Taiwan as a member, the federation accepted membership applications from five other countries, increasing the total number of member countries from 63 to 69 and the travel destinations on offer.

The spokesman added that participants at the conference also outlined three key areas for improvement -- upgrading the quality but not the cost of accommodation, raising the image of the federation through effective marketing and offering more language options in its Web sites to make online reservations more efficient and international.

The IYHF was established in 1909 with the goal of promoting cultural exchange and cultivating a global view among youths through international travel.

In order to allow youths to backpack around the world on a budget, the federation charges per bed instead of by room, saving backpackers 40 percent to 60 percent on lodging.

The federation currently manages over 3.4 million beds in 4,000 youth hostels in 85 countries, which attract some 340 million people annually.
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