‧ Post-pandemic tourism revival: the tourism industry vies for domestic and international opportunities
As the coronavirus pandemic is drawing to an end, many countries are lifting their border restrictions, Taiwan included. Since announcing its lifting of border control measures in October last year, we are seeing a persistent flood of passport applications, as well as a drastic increase in arriving travelers. The revival of tourism in Taiwan is real and palpable. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Tourism Bureau has also been pouring resources in this sector, targeting international tourists in the fortified promotion of tourism in Taiwan. This year, the Taiwan Lantern Festival worked with various national flag air carriers to invite over 200 international tourism operators from 12 countries to visit Taiwan for the lantern festival and travel around the island to sample the local gourmet foods and check out the tourism resources. Worldwide travelers are not only scrambling for a trip overseas, but also becoming more demanding about all aspects of travel. As a result, they tend to plan their itinerary in advance, extend their stay or ramp up the budget to get more out of the trip, quality wise.
‧ Volvo Group continues its partnership with Taikoo Motors to offer all-rounded services and maintenance in Taiwan
Photo courtesy of Bai-Jun Transport
Taikoo Commercial Vehicles Ltd started the dealership with Volvo Trucks and Buses in 1978, and has since become Volvo’s long-standing partner. Their partnership has taken root in Taiwan for over four decades. The company has four directly operated service centers and 20 authorized maintenance workshops across Taiwan, including two flagship service centers, which are the largest in Southeast Asia. They also form a 360° industry ecosystem offering trucks, buses and construction equipment. The goal is to continuously provide total solutions and expand the market, and strengthen the services and position of Volvo as the industry leader in the long run. As a pioneer of sustainability, Volvo has since the 1970s incorporated reduction of carbon emissions and air pollution into the core values of the brand. Offering the best fuel efficiency among vehicles of the same range, plus low carbon emissions and high performance, the Volvo B11R has 460 HP, a solid chassis and 12-speed I-Shift transmission to give passengers the most stable and comfortable riding experience. Its outstanding steering capability allows the driver to stay focused and relaxed at the same time. Its fuel-efficient engine complies with Euro-6 environmental protection regulations and saves up to 10 percent of the fuel cost in a bid to cocreate sustainable values from an environmentally friendly stance.
‧ Safe, high-quality, sustainable Volvo Buses much coveted by premium brands
For international travelers, food, accommodation and transportation are everyday concerns. For international tour operators, enhancing tour bus comfort and safety while staying aligned with sustainable green energy trends has always been their top concern. As a leading brand for global premium travel coaches, Volvo Buses are much coveted by customers seeking quality and safety, and are often deployed to serve as luxury coaches. For instance, STARLUX Airlines(星宇航空) has purchased two of the Volvo B11R model to transport their cabin crew as shuttle buses, primarily for the consideration of safety and comfort; the entire bus’ furnishings and its exterior are an extension of STARLUX’s superior brand image, thus the best embodiment of dual branding. Equally worth noting is the “Unicorn” built by Bai-Jun Transport (百駿通運), which is also equipped with the Volvo B11R and introduced as the world’s first wight-seat super luxurious first-class tour bus. Boasting a smooth and comfortable riding experience, plus lush furnishings on par with a presidential suite, the “Unicorn” caused quite a stir upon launch.
Photo courtesy of STARLUX Airlines
‧ First in Taiwan: Volvo Taipei restaurant bus double-decker for dining and sight-seeing
Volvo and e-go have joined forces to launch the Taipei Restaurant Bus Double-Decker, which claims to have topped Taipei’s most popular tour itinerary in recent years, and guarantees to offer the most luxurious comfy tour bus experience. With a stable chassis, the outstanding vehicle allows for maximum comfort for dining as it traverses through the city. The restaurant bus consists of an upper deck for dining and a lower deck for food preparation. Able to seat 26 people, the bus is equipped with entertainment devices such as televisions, stereo sound and wireless microphones, plus a special full-view glass roof for passengers to take in the capital city’s scenery in East District and Xinyi District from a unique and brand-new angle. The exquisite and delicious meals are provided by a number of renowned hotels to ensure a super chill feast not only for the eyes, but also for the palate.
Photo courtesy of E-go Taiwan Car Rental & Travel Group Corp
DIVIDED VIEWS: Although the Fed agreed on holding rates steady, some officials see no rate cuts for this year, while 10 policymakers foresee two or more cuts There are a lot of unknowns about the outlook for the economy and interest rates, but US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signaled at least one thing seems certain: Higher prices are coming. Fed policymakers voted unanimously to hold interest rates steady at a range of 4.25 percent to 4.50 percent for a fourth straight meeting on Wednesday, as they await clarity on whether tariffs would leave a one-time or more lasting mark on inflation. Powell said it is still unclear how much of the bill would fall on the shoulders of consumers, but he expects to learn more about tariffs
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PLANS: MSI is also planning to upgrade its service center in the Netherlands Micro-Star International Co (MSI, 微星) yesterday said it plans to set up a server assembly line at its Poland service center this year at the earliest. The computer and peripherals manufacturer expects that the new server assembly line would shorten transportation times in shipments to European countries, a company spokesperson told the Taipei Times by telephone. MSI manufactures motherboards, graphics cards, notebook computers, servers, optical storage devices and communication devices. The company operates plants in Taiwan and China, and runs a global network of service centers. The company is also considering upgrading its service center in the Netherlands into a
NOT JUSTIFIED: The bank’s governor said there would only be a rate cut if inflation falls below 1.5% and economic conditions deteriorate, which have not been detected The central bank yesterday kept its key interest rates unchanged for a fifth consecutive quarter, aligning with market expectations, while slightly lowering its inflation outlook amid signs of cooling price pressures. The move came after the US Federal Reserve held rates steady overnight, despite pressure from US President Donald Trump to cut borrowing costs. Central bank board members unanimously voted to maintain the discount rate at 2 percent, the secured loan rate at 2.375 percent and the overnight lending rate at 4.25 percent. “We consider the policy decision appropriate, although it suggests tightening leaning after factoring in slackening inflation and stable GDP growth,”
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