The nation welcomed its 3 millionth overseas visitor yesterday, the Tourism Bureau said yesterday.
Korean Kim In-tae, 33, was the lucky visitor. A businessman, Kim said he came here because of the popular Korean television series On Air. Kim said he is planning to spend four days checking out some of the scenic spots shown in the television series, such as the National Palace Museum and Yeliou (野柳).
Aside from receiving NT$300,000 spending money on his credit card, Kim will be given a bottle of the “Malasun Millet Wine” (馬拉桑小米酒) and glass beads that became famous after the release of the film Cape No. 7. The Malasun Millet Wine was produced by the Hsin-Yi Farmers Association in Nantou County. It was created specifically for the movie and eventually became available for retail sale.
The glass beads were produced in Sandimen Township in Pintung County and are accessories worn by people of the Aboriginal Rukai and Paiwan tribes.
The bureau said yesterday that it had met the 3 million benchmark earlier than scheduled. Last year, the 3 millionth visitor did not come until the end of October. In 2006, the 3 millionth visitor entered the country at the end of November.
The 1 millionth tourist this year came in April, whereas the 2 millionth arrived in July.
For this year, the bureau said it still aims to attract 4 million tourists from overseas. The bureau must strive to attract another 1 million overseas tourists within the remaining two-and-a-half months.
The linchpin, however, appears to be Chinese tourists.
The Central News Agency reported on Monday that Tourism Bureau Director-General Janice Lai (賴瑟珍), who is promoting tourism in China at the moment, said she hoped the goal of having 20,000 Chinese tourists visit Taiwan each month can be met by the end of this year.
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