While homestay has become an increasingly popular lodging option for vacationers, the results of an investigation by the Cabinet's Consumer Protection Commission showed that 75 percent of these private residences turned into full or partial guest lodgings suffer from poor safety standards and hygiene.
Aiming to improve the quality of local hotels and lodges, the commission conducted a large-scale investigation into 120 homestays nationwide in 18 cities and counties in late December and early January.
poor hygiene
The commission's investigation showed that the quality of 90 homestays was poor in terms of public safety and hygiene.
Thirty of the homestay operators were unlicensed, and only one quarter of the inspected facilities met government requirements in terms of building management, sanitation and firefighting equipment.
On sanitation, 10 of the licensed homestays and 12 of the unlicensed homestays failed the test, they said.
On firefighting equipment, 17 percent of the licensed homestays and 50 percent of the unlicensed homestays did not pass inspection, they added.
Among the lodges in need of improvement, Takuan Farm (達觀農場), located in Taoyuan County, was considered the worst, as its construction, fire control facilities, hygiene conditions and business operations were all below standard.
illegal construction
Commission officials said that some lodges even expanded their building to accommodate more rooms, which is illegal.
For example, a registered lodge in Taitung County has illegally expanded its 15 rooms into 65 rooms. Moreover, some of the lodges seldom changed their bedquilts and sheets.
According to the officials, lodges in Miaoli, Chiayi and Kinmen counties had the best quality among the 120 homestays.
Meanwhile, to combat unlicensed lodges that advertise their services online, the commission yesterday called on the public to check with the Cabinet's tourism bureau or local governments before making a reservation.
Upon arrival at the homestay, people should check whether the lodge's business license is hanging on the lobby wall and inspect the surrounding environment. If the place is not safe, they should leave immediately, the officials said.
LOW RISK: Most nations do not extradite people accused of political crimes, and the UN says extradition can only happen if the act is a crime in both countries, an official said China yesterday issued wanted notices for two Taiwanese influencers, accusing them of committing “separatist acts” by criticizing Beijing, amid broadening concerns over China’s state-directed transnational repression. The Quanzhou Public Security Bureau in a notice posted online said police are offering a reward of up to 25,000 yuan (US$3,523) for information that could contribute to the investigation or apprehension of pro-Taiwanese independence YouTuber Wen Tzu-yu (溫子渝),who is known as Pa Chiung (八炯) online, and rapper Chen Po-yuan (陳柏源). Wen and Chen are suspected of spreading content that supported secession from China, slandered Chinese policies that benefit Taiwanese and discrimination against Chinese spouses of
PROMOTION: Travelers who want a free stopover must book their flights with designated travel agents, such as Lion Travel, Holiday Tours, Cola Tour and Life Tours Air Canada yesterday said it is offering Taiwanese travelers who are headed to North America free stopovers if they transit though airports in Japan and South Korea. The promotion was launched in response to a potential rise in demand for flights to North America in June and July next year, when the US, Canada and Mexico are scheduled to jointly host the FIFA World Cup, Air Canada said. Air Canada offers services to 13 of the 16 host cities of the tournament’s soccer games, including Toronto and Vancouver; Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey in Mexico; Atlanta, Georgia; Boston; Dallas; Houston;
The US approved the possible sale to Taiwan of fighter jet spare and repair parts for US$330 million, the Pentagon said late yesterday, marking the first such potential transaction since US President Donald Trump took office in January. "The proposed sale will improve the recipient's capability to meet current and future threats by maintaining the operational readiness of the recipient's fleet of F-16, C-130," and other aircraft, the Pentagon said in a statement. Trump previously said that Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平) has told him he would not invade Taiwan while the Republican leader is in office. The announcement of the possible arms
ALIGNED THINKING: Taiwan and Japan have a mutual interest in trade, culture and engineering, and can work together for stability, Cho Jung-tai said Taiwan and Japan are two like-minded countries willing to work together to form a “safety barrier” in the Indo-Pacific region, Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) yesterday said at the opening ceremony of the 35th Taiwan-Japan Modern Engineering and Technology Symposium in Taipei. Taiwan and Japan are close geographically and closer emotionally, he added. Citing the overflowing of a barrier lake in the Mataian River (馬太鞍溪) in September, Cho said the submersible water level sensors given by Japan during the disaster helped Taiwan monitor the lake’s water levels more accurately. Japan also provided a lot of vaccines early in the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic,
RSS