TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Starting July 1, visitors to Lambai Island, also known as Xiaoliuqiu, will be charged a marine conservation fee of NT$60 per person. The fee will apply to those entering intertidal zones that are designated conservation demonstration areas.
In addition to the fee, there will be a limit to the number of people allowed in simultaneously.
The Pingtung County government emphasized that the funds will be used to maintain and restore natural ecological resources. The goal is to balance tourism with ecology for sustainable development.
Chen Wen-yu, chairman of an organization promoting ecotourism and sustainability on Lambai Island, said the island's environment and ecology have been damaged due to excess tourists.
She said that by controlling the number of visitors to ecologically sensitive areas and legally collecting a minimum fee for marine conservation, the quality of recreation can be improved, and ecologically sensitive areas can be protected. Visitors will also be covered by insurance.
Lambai Island sees over 1 million visitors each year. Last year, following the pandemic, the number of visits quickly rebounded to 1.11 million.