Despite the deep divisions in the Legislative Yuan, a little while ago ruling and opposition legislators came together in a rare moment of consensus. They criticized the direction of the nation’s tourism policy.
Legislators of all hues were concerned that although the number of tourists visiting Taiwan has risen in recent years, the market is over-reliant on those from China. The result is crowds of tourists, but very little money being spent by them.
Meanwhile, domestic tourism has stagnated. The number of domestic visitors to the National Palace Museum has decreased rather than increased.
The decline of Taiwan’s tourism industry was widely anticipated, and only required a certain amount of common sense or reason to be able to see it coming. However, the ideology of those in power compels them to turn a blind eye to the consequences and to continue pell-mell in completely the wrong direction.
Any review of the biased tourism policy of recent years shows that it has espoused the budget, mass tourism route. It pursues expansion in quantity with no thought to quality.
When President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration took office, it adopted a blanket policy of inclining toward China. This was manifested in its tourism policy by opening the door wide to Chinese tourists. At the Double Ten National Day celebrations this year, Ma said in his speech that 14 million Chinese had visited Taiwan since he took office, and last year alone there were nearly 4 million, more than tenfold growth.
Ma actually boasted about this, claiming it as a specific example of cross-strait peace and prosperity.
To boost the numbers of Chinese tourists, the tourism industry just seeks short-term benefits, and behind this is the fundamental government policy dictated by Ma.
As Taiwan’s industries relocate to China, the development of its tourism industry has also become reliant on China, causing disastrous consequences for Taiwan, which are only now becoming apparent.
Being tied to China in either the tourism industry or the manufacturing industry has the same results. There is a pursuit of low prices and high volumes, making it difficult to raise quality. Although Chinese tourists like to shop, it is for luxury goods. This does not necessarily benefit local industries. While their groups are large, they are budget-level, so Taiwanese businesses do not see much cash from them.
If you deduct the amount of their daily shopping, Chinese tourists are no more beneficial than tourists from other countries.
In addition, the mentality of the Chinese is to keep any largesse strictly in the family. When a large number of Chinese visitors started arriving in Taiwan, flagship travel firms that had grown up around investing in Hong Kong or foreign investment destinations and their related businesses, such as organizing tours, accommodation, transport and shopping, put down roots in Taiwan with their complete all-in-one packages.
Taiwanese companies actually benefit very little, and often work for very poor returns. Coach drivers in particular have to work very long hours.
Similarly, the large number of tourists creates maintenance burdens, additional cleaning and security costs for popular sites, as well as ecological damage. If the pay by use principle is not implemented, Taiwan will sustain permanent damage in the blind pursuit of increasing tourist numbers.
Worse, domestic tourism resources are limited. When there is a large influx of Chinese tourists, it crowds out visitors from the US and Europe. Only in recent years has China allowed its people to go abroad as tourists, and Chinese tourists have been criticized around the world for their uncivilized behavior. Locals in these countries are often dumbfounded at the arrogance of the Chinese visitors.
In Taiwan, being crowded out by Chinese tourists has led to significant attrition in the number of domestic visitors to the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, Taroko Gorge, Sizihwan, Kenting and other popular spots. Many Taiwanese people now regard these destinations as spoiled, and choose to travel abroad instead.
In any relationship with China, there is another big concern: There is no such thing as political and economic separation by the Chinese Communist Party. Even tourism cannot escape Beijing’s political interference.
Macau’s economy declined in the second quarter of this year by 26.4 percent. Its annual negative growth is forecast at 21 percent, due to the Chinese government’s anti-corruption drive, which has hit Macau’s casino-based tourism industry hard.
Do not doubt that something similar is going on in Taiwan. Some Tainan City Council members have said that due to Tainan Mayor Willliam Lai’s (賴清德) pro-Taiwanese independence stance, Beijing has ordered Chinese tourists not to visit Tainan. Evidently, if nothing else, Chinese tourists are a factor in Taiwanese discussions on the direction for self-censorship that is casting its shadow over the nation.
Tourism allows visitors to appreciate the beauty of mountains and other scenery and the friendliness of a nation’s people, but it also shows them the specific differences between cultures and societies. For people to come and enjoy Taiwan, the tourism industry needs to put in serious work at many levels.
Japan is a favorite destination for many Taiwanese because it has cultural significance, each area has its own local characteristics and tourism-related businesses are known to be honest and trustworthy.
Although Taiwan is known for its scenic beauty, local characteristics and cultural significance are lacking. In the night markets or old streets, there is much of a muchness, with shops selling similar merchandise. Businesses in scenic areas appear unconcerned with establishing repeat business; they treat tourists as if they do not care if they ever come back.
A lack of basic business integrity, a predilection for cheating and ripping off strangers are all stumbling blocks to the development of tourism. Although progress has been made in establishing a visitor-friendly English-language environment, it is not enough.
Translated by Clare Lear
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