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Bureau unveils new tourism drive

The Tourism Bureau will launch a series of activities, including inviting 99 foreign couples to the scenic Mount Hehuan in central Taiwan and providing foot massages to 1,000 people at the Taipei Arena, to promote tourism, bureau director-general Janice Lai (賴瑟珍) said on Wednesday.

She said that Hehuanshan (合歡山) bordering Hualien and Nantou counties, is one of the country's major attractions, while providing 1,000 people with foot massages -- a distinctive way of remaining healthy in Taiwan -- will bring publicity and an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Lai made the remarks when reporting on the "2008-2009 Tour Taiwan Years" project. Lai is the executive director of the project.

She said that through such promotions the number of foreign tourists could grow by 7 percent in the next two years, and tourism revenues would reach NT$390 billion (US$12.03 billion).

Lai said that the bureau is also preparing to increase subsidies to draw foreign visitors, noting that subsidies of NT$30 million have already provided for 100 charter planes bringing 15,000 visitors this year and that subsidies will be raised to NT$50 million next year to bring 20,000 visitors.

Foreign cruise ships will also be given subsidies if they make stopovers in Taiwan, Lai said, adding that the plan, which will be put into practice in July, will provide US$10,000 in subsidies for cruise ships carrying 500 passengers, and US$30,000 for those with 2,000 passengers or more.

Meanwhile, to encourage foreign travel agencies to promote tourism in Taiwan, the Tourism Bureau will share expenses for printing Taiwanese tourism package folders or running tourism advertisements, Lai said.

The 2009 Deaf Olympics and the 2009 World Games in Taiwan will help promote tourism other international sports events, such as baseball championships, marathons and cycling races, will also help to draw visitors, she said.

To develop a broad tourism base, the bureau will promote winter golfing trips to Taiwan in Japan and South Korea.

Targeting those who enjoy rail travel, the Tourism Bureau will also have high speed rail, Taiwan Railway travel and steam rail package tours.

Noting that Taiwan's popular singing group F4 has a strong following in Japan and South Korea, the bureau will ask the group to continue to serve as spokesmen for the nation's tourism, while popular singer Jolin Tsai (蔡依林) will serve as spokeswoman in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.

To tap into the market of the 2 million visitors making transit stops in Taiwan every year, the tourism bureau will also cooperate with air carriers to offer short-stay packages, such as a US$97 tour of Taiwan, and half-day tour activities.
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