Huge crowds continued to attend the Taipei International Travel Fair on its second day yesterday, where exhibitors are showcasing cultures and foods from around the world.
The Israeli booth, organized by the Israel Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei, has been presenting wine and hummus served with pita bread, to give visitors a taste of one of the Middle Eastern country’s staple foods.
In an effort to promote tourism in Israel, visitors to the booth also have the opportunity to have their photos taken with large photos of iconic sites such as the Western Wall in Jerusalem and the beach in Tel Aviv.
Photo: CNA
Several Taiwanese and Israeli children, joined by Israel’s representative to Taiwan, Simona Halperin, yesterday staged a show to present falafel, kebabs and other dishes common in Israel, the office said.
The 60 countries and territories represented at the fair this year include South Korea and Japan, both of which are among the most popular travel destinations for Taiwanese.
As the snow season in South Korea is just around the corner, the South Korean booth held an event yesterday in which visitors were invited to don skiing equipment, to gain an idea of the sport under the guidance of an expert, who said that a three-day trip to the country is enough to learn how to ski.
The Central American booth featured a music and dance performance incorporating Latin culture.
A variety of performances from representatives of Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Honduras, Macau, Hawaii and Guam are scheduled to take place over the next two days, said the Taiwan Visitors Association, which organized the fair.
An estimated 320,000 people are expected to attend the four-day event, which features 1,450 booths, the association said.
The number of visitors to the fair reached a record high of 69,803 on its opening day on Friday, a 13.4 percent year-on-year growth.
The event last year saw about 315,000 visitors in total, a then-record, and a 20.1 percent increase from the previous year, the association said.
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