Taipei’s public sports centers — the newcomers in the NT$3.5 billion (US$115.2 million) health and fitness industry — have stirred up the market and started an exercise trend that is sweeping the city.
With the opening of the public sports center in Wenshan District (文山) in August, there is now one in each of the city’s 12 districts. August also saw the total number of monthly users of the facilities top 1 million for the first time.
“It was expected that the 1 million target would be achieved next year. No one thought it could be achieved in the middle of this year,” Taipei City Sports Office director Sun Chin-chuan (孫清泉) said.
Meanwhile, private gyms are feeling the pressure as they try to restructure after a series of bankruptcies and mergers over the years. One gym in Neihu District (內湖) closed down after the local sports center opened nearby in 2008. Other private operators are adopting new strategies to cope with the competition.
Market leader World Gym plans to set up smaller gyms that will offer basic services at a lower price, while True Group said it would take a friendlier sales approach as many consumers complain about over-eager salespeople.
Taipei’s success has led the Sports Affairs Council to plan 50 more public sports centers around the country.
“Taipei City’s outstanding achievement has put some pressure on other counties and cities,” said Hu Chi-pang (胡啟邦), head of the council’s Sports Facilities Department.
Despite the success, there are a series of challenges and negotiations that the management team under the city’s Sports Office must cope with.
Although each center is operated by private contractors, the office monitors them closely as users often call the city’s service hotline instead of the sports centers.
The office receives more than 70 complaints every month and more than 100 during the summer peak season.
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