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Bureau conducts record-breaking group foot massage

“It is a great opportunity for us to gather here in the Taipei Arena today to bring together culture and tourism to showcase the high quality of reflexology services in Taiwan ... the Tourism Bureau would like to use creativity and sincerity to touch the hearts of foreign tourists.”

— Janice Lai, director-general of the Tourism Bureau

The Tourism Bureau yesterday organized a record-setting reflexology therapy session in which nearly 1,000 foreign tourists received foot massages in an attempt to promote medical and “stay fit” tourism in Taiwan.

A total of 2,000 people, including 1,000 reflexologists and some 830 tourists from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia and other countries along with foreign expatriates, easily set the new world record after 40 minutes of foot massage at the Taipei Arena.

The previous record featured 400 people getting reflexology for five minutes.

“It is a great opportunity for us to gather here in the Taipei Arena today to bring together culture and tourism to showcase the high quality of reflexology services in Taiwan,” said Janice Lai (賴瑟珍), director-general of the Tourism Bureau.

“With 2008-2009 being the year of Tour Taiwan, the Tourism Bureau would like to use creativity and sincerity to touch the hearts of foreign tourists and give them an unforgettable memory they will remember for the rest of their lives,” she said.

Before the foot massage, a drumming performance by the famous U Theater helped the participants get in the mood.

Following the drumming performance, the Meimen Qigong and Culture Center gave the 2,000 participants a basic qigong course, which is a system of meditational breathing exercises.

Lai said Taiwan provides a diverse range of medical and health maintenance tourism products such as hot springs, spas, massages and healthy dining, which have long been welcomed by international tourists.

The Tourism Bureau will continue to hold events promoting these types of products to attract more tourists to experience the excellent quality of Taiwan’s tourism services, she said.

Taiwan is hoping to increase the number of tourists and other visitors to 4 million this year — a 7 percent increase year-on-year.

Part of its strategy is to encourage travelers to come here for healing therapy, from massage to more complicated medical procedures such as plastic surgery, taking advantage of the nation’s advanced — but relatively affordable health care system. The country is hoping to become a medical tourism destination like Thailand and Singapore.

In addition to the free massage fest, the Tourism Bureau is also offering incentives such as gifts, special hotel deals and prizes to lure tourists to the nation this year.
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