The Kaohsiung City Government is considering whether to clamp down on the city’s booming trade in budget accommodation in residential areas in response to city councilors’ concerns about potential public security concerns.
Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chu (陳菊) told the Kaohsiung City Council yesterday that such accommodation in apartment buildings or residential areas violated the Urban Planning Act (都市計畫法), and had already caused public order problems and adversely impacted residents in affected neighborhoods.
CLAMP DOWN
Chen said she had asked the city’s Tourism Bureau to invite government agencies to discuss how best to clamp down on this recent development.
Although Chen said she would like to ban budget accommodation from residential areas altogether, however, the city government should help related businesses operate better in business districts.
Chen was responding to concerns raised by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Kaohsiung City Councilor Lien Li-jen (連立堅).
TOURISM
Budget accommodation rented by the day has increased rapidly in the city in response to booming tourism.
Many owners of suites in the city’s landmark Tuntex Sky Tower have decorated rooms and now rent them by the day via on-line bidding Web sites.
Tour groups or backpackers choose this type of accommodation because of the amenities and low room rates — roughly NT$1,500 per night — and because visitors generally do not need to register, Lien said.
Chen called on the central government to draw up a set of rules to regulate this new type of accommodation, so that local governments would know what guidelines to follow.
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