The legislature yesterday approved an amendment to the Act for the Development of Tourism (發展觀光條例) that will allow people to buy domestic air and boat tickets at convenience stores and post offices nationwide.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Tsao Erh-chang (曹爾忠) hailed the passage of the bill, saying it would save residents of outlying islands the trouble of buying tickets at airports or travel agencies, which are usually some distance from their homes.
Tsao initiated the amendment following a case in which Uni Air was found to have violated the act by allowing residents of Matsu to purchase plane tickets at convenience stores.
The legislature also approved an amendment to the Agriculture Finance Act (農業金融法) allowing the Agricultural Bank of Taiwan, the credit department of farmers’ and fishermen’s associations, to issue credit cards.
KMT Legislator Hsiao Ching-tien (蕭景田) said the revision would benefit residents in rural and remote areas by making it possible for them to apply for credit cards at nearby agricultural or fishermen’s associations, with applications to be reviewed by the bank.
Also approved by the legislature was an amendment to the Preschool Education Act (幼稚教育法) allocating more funds for the Ministry of Education to hire more teachers to look after children in kindergarten.
Under the current system, a kindergarten school can apply for a subsidy for a teacher with a class of 30 children. After the revision, the ministry will be able to offer subsidies for two teachers in a kindergarten in a class which has more than 15 students and fewer than 30.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
The Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) yesterday announced a ban on all current and former government officials from traveling to China to attend a military parade on Sept. 3, which Beijing is to hold to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War. "This year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the Republic of China’s victory in the War of Resistance [Against Japan]," MAC Deputy Minister and spokesperson Liang Wen-chieh (梁文傑) told a regular news briefing in Taipei. To prevent Beijing from using the Sept. 3 military parade and related events for "united
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