Except for Taitung, hoteliers across the nation have reported an increase in cancelations of room and dining reservations during the first weekend of the winter break, as the COVID-19 outbreak at the Taoyuan General Hospital spreads.
A hotel manager in Kenting, Pingtung County, surnamed Chu (朱), on Sunday said that his hotel had a booking rate of more than 90 percent prior to the Taoyuan outbreak, but many called the hotel over the weekend to cancel or postpone their reservations.
Hotels near the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area in Chiayi County also saw their booking rate fall by 20 percent during the same period.
Photo: Tsai Tsung-hsien, Taipei Times
Nantou County Department of Tourism said in a statement that hotels near Sitou National Forest Area and Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) reported an average cancelation rate of 20 percent, except for the Lunar New Year holiday period, adding that most of the cancelations came from tour groups.
The cancelation rate in hotels near Cingjing Farm (清境農場) in Taichung was about 10 percent.
Hotels in Taoyuan bore the brunt of the losses, as people have called to cancel room and restaurant reservations.
Most of the cancelations were for reservations for days before Lunar New Year’s Eve, Taoyuan Hotel Association chairman Chiu Chao-ching (邱照進) said.
Hotel Cozzi in Taoyuan said that many of its customers are concerned about the health risks of staying or dining in the hotel, despite the hotel’s assurances that it disinfects its premises four times a day.
About 20 percent of its corporate customers have postponed year-end banquets, it added.
Hualien Hotel Association chairman Chen Yi-fong (陳義豐) said that hotel reservations in Hualien from Feb. 12 to Feb. 14 dropped by nearly 20 percent.
New Taipei City Hotel Association chairwoman Tseng Mei-chuan (曾美絹) said the outbreak at the Taoyuan hospital has disrupted travel plans for many families.
“In the past, nearly all rooms during the Lunar New Year holiday would be booked. However, as many travelers from the south have canceled their plans to travel north, the booking rate has slid to 40 to 50 percent,” she said.
In contrast, Taitung Visitors’ Association chairwoman Lucy Pan (潘貴蘭) said that booking rates for the county’s three-star and above hotels have risen significantly, as some tour groups have changed their travel plans from Pingtung to Taitung.
“Most of the tourist attractions in Taitung are outdoors, where people can view the sea and mountains, and enjoy fresh air,” Pan said. “Group travelers mainly stay in three-star hotels, whereas independent travelers mostly stay in five-star hotels. As such, we do not have many cancelations, even as the pandemic escalates.”
Additional reporting by Chen Feng-li, Wang Chun-chi and Chen Hsien-yi
GENSLER SURVEY: ‘Economic infrastructure is not enough. A city needs to inspire pride, offer moments of joy and foster a sense of belonging,’ the company said Taipei was named the city with the “highest staying power” in the world by US-based design and architecture firm Gensler. The Taiwanese capital earned the top spot among 65 cities across six continents with 64 percent of Taipei respondents in a survey of 33,000 people saying they wanted to stay in the city. Rounding out the top five were Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (61 percent), Singapore (59 percent), Sydney (58 percent) and Berlin (51 percent). Sixth to 10th place went to Monterrey, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Vancouver; and Seoul. Cities in the US were ranked separately, with Minneapolis first at
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
RSS