The government has introduced a subsidy program for individuals visiting the east coast in an effort to promote domestic tourism with online registration starting on Saturday and running until the end of September.
Each person can receive a NT$1,000 subsidy from Monday to Thursday when staying at a government-approved hotel or private lodgings in Hualien County, and a NT$500 subsidy from Friday to Sunday.
The same subsidies would be available to those visiting Taitung County from Aug. 1.
Photo: Wang Chin-yi, Taipei Times
The program aims to stimulate the local economy and help small businesses, which were hard-hit by a series of earthquakes earlier this year, the Tourism Administration said.
Only Taiwanese are eligible, and it does not include group travel and packaged tours.
Online registration and information can be accessed at https://gostayeast.tad.gov.tw/, the agency said.
More than 700 hotels, bed-and-breakfasts and private lodgings have signed up and are eligible for the rebate program.
People can book a room directly with the hotel or lodging operators themselves, or can register on the platform set up by the agency.
If the program, which has a fixed budget, proves popular, the Tourism Administration would announce the early end of the program three weeks in advance, therefore people are advised to check the updates on the Web site.
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