The Pingtung County Government has enacted the nation’s first local ordinance regulating all-terrain vehicles (ATV) to improve safety and promote nature conservation.
While no law exists on the national level that restricts ATV use, the Executive Yuan in 2023 issued management guidelines for local governments to adapt based on environmental conditions.
Pingtung is the only county or municipality to adopt such regulations, which were passed late last year and are being implemented in Manjhou Township (滿州), where authorities have partnered with the Loshanfeng Scenic Area to integrate ATVs into eco-tourism programs.
Photo courtesy of the Manjhou Township Office
The Loshanfeng Scenic Area is in southern Taiwan, covering parts of Checheng (車埕), Mudan (牡丹) and Manzhou (滿州) townships, near Kenting National Park. A trial program to implement the ordinance began on Saturday and is expected to be fully implemented by the end of the year.
ATVs have grown in popularity in Taiwan over the past decade, and are a mainstay of adventure tourism, including dune racing and night safaris to spot Formosan sika deer. However, inexperienced drivers have caused numerous crashes and injuries, raising concerns about safety, the county government said.
Pingtung said its introduction of the regulations was done under the principle of balancing recreation, safety and ecological protection. Since ATVs remain prohibited in Kenting National Park, people interested in riding them are often drawn to the county’s coastal areas, such as Gangzai (港仔) and Jiupeng (九棚), where local businesses have rented out ATVs for more than 30 years.
Manjhou Township Mayor Ku Jung-fu (古榮福) said on Saturday that the township has already submitted a business development plan involving the use of ATVs to the county government, which has been approved.
About 27 hectares of land are undergoing rezoning, while additional lease negotiations are under way with the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, he said, adding that the project could formally launch by the end of the year.
Over the weekend, the Gangzai Community Development Association launched a pilot ecotourism package, with participants riding ATVs in pairs to the edge of a sand dune before continuing on foot into a nearby forest. They visited various scenic sites, including a creek bed that locals describe as a “mysterious oasis” in the forest. The two-and-a-half-hour tour is priced at NT$3,000 per group, with a limit of 20 participants, the association said.
Other activities were also on offer, including guided tours of the coast along Provincial Highway No. 26, cycling trips, workshops on Manjhou folk music and songwriting, DIY projects using marine debris, and traditional local cuisine, it said.
Local ATV operators who spoke with reporters said they had once feared being shut down, but the new ordinance and ecotourism focus had given them confidence about the industry’s future.
“Safety is our top priority. Training, insurance and equipment checks are all taken care of before each trip,” one operator said.
“Only then can the industry grow and ensure Manjhou maintains its advantage as a pioneer in the industry,” they added.
The county government said the ordinance includes penalties for operators who fail to disclose their business activities, neglect to purchase insurance, use vehicles without certification or allow anyone to drive under the influence. It also sets rules on age restrictions, helmet use and safety requirements for participants, it said.
“By encouraging cooperation with authorities to ensure legal operation of ATVs, we hope to promote Manjhou as a model for sustainable ATV tourism,” it said, adding that the new ordinance also aligned with the Loshanfeng Scenic Area’s tourism development.
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