Tourists can now plan their visit to Taiwan by consulting the Taiwan Tourism Events Calendar (台灣觀光年曆), which was unveiled to the public yesterday.
The Tourism Bureau, which published the calendar, has chosen 42 festive, sports and music events around the nation, aiming to use them to promote tourism in Taiwan.
The events include the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in New Taipei City (新北市), the Toucheng Ghost-pole-climbing competition in Yilan County, the Yanshui Beehive Firecrackers Festival in Greater Tainan and the Taiwan Balloon Festival in Taitung County.
Minister of Transportation and Communications Mao Chi-kuo (毛治國), who initiated the idea, said the ministry encouraged different government agencies to propose their ideas for fun tourist attractions, good accommodations and characteristic souvenirs. The bureau would evaluate their proposals and choose some of them to put on the calendar.
“We hope that the calendar will become a platform for organizers to promote their events,” Mao said. “Anyone who comes to Taiwan does not need to remember too many details. The calendar will allow people to have fun whenever they come and wherever they go.”
Tourism Bureau Director General David Hsieh (謝謂君) said the bureau hoped the calendar will help attract 23 million domestic and international tourists.
It estimated that the calendar will help generate tourism revenue of NT$20 billion (US$680 million).
The calendars can be picked up at tourism information centers nationwide, the bureau said, adding that they can also be viewed online or downloaded using mobile phone applications.
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