The Taichung City Government has announced that Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (盧秀燕) is to officiate at a wedding ceremony for 66 couples on board a chartered flight to Okinawa, Japan. The city will sponsor the couples’ airfares under the promotional theme “Love Begins in Taichung, Romance Above the Clouds.”
Many have questioned the city’s decision to fly the couples abroad when Taichung is home to impressive venues of its own such as National Taichung Theater, the Gaomei Wetlands and Central Park.
Public spending is meant to be allocated to maximize public benefit, not to generate media fanfare. Local government-organized mass weddings in Taiwan have been a way of encouraging young people to marry, start families and boost family values — a commendable goal.
However, whether the ceremony needs to be held in Okinawa is another question entirely.
If the weddings were held locally, they could showcase the city’s attractions while generating business for local industries. Every dollar of public funds would circulate back into the local economy.
Moreover, local student sports teams lack sufficient funding support to compete in international competitions, being forced to raise the money themselves. Student athletes represent not only their institutions, but also Taichung — and Taiwan. They compete on the international stage and bring honor to the nation through their achievements. They deserve better support.
While the Taichung Education Bureau does provide some subsidies, the need for fundraising suggests that support levels remain inadequate. If the city has the resources to invest in destination wedding programs, could not the resources be first directed toward young people who are carrying the city’s reputation onto the world stage?
The issue is not with the local government being creative, but with its priorities. Public resources are limited and the public wants to see them directed where they are needed most.
If the city government truly hopes to build a happier city, it should first ensure that young people pursuing their dreams no longer have to worry about travel expenses, encourage more of them to build their futures in Taichung and invest in initiatives that boost the local economy. Creative marketing can come later.
Elliot Yao is a reviewer.
Translated by Gilda Knox Streader
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