TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) emphasized on Monday (May 6) that its use of Chinese social media platforms to promote Taiwan's tourism highlights and friendliness towards visitors does not involve cross-strait political issues.
The statement came in response to criticism from Kuomintang Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin, who accused the MOTC of hypocrisy for criticizing the Ma-Xi meeting and Fu Kun-chi's visit to China while seeking to attract business opportunities. Hsu and Ye Yuan-zhi and Taoyuan City Councilor Ling Tao held a press conference at the Legislative Yuan to criticize the MOTC's operation of mainland social media platforms.
The Tourism Administration under the MOTC stated that to attract tourists worldwide, Taiwan has actively promoted its tourism through various media outlets in different market sources. Given the importance of social media as a channel for tourists to obtain travel information, the Tourism Administration has been cultivating platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. However, as these platforms are not accessible in China, Weibo and WeChat are the primary channels.
The Tourism Administration's Weibo account was created in 2011, and its WeChat account was created in 2014. To increase Taiwan's tourism exposure and maintain Chinese tourists' familiarity with Taiwan's tourism resources, the administration plans to add the "Xiaohongshu" travel social platform this year.
The Tourism Administration pointed out that the global tourism market is fiercely competitive after the pandemic, with countries including Japan, South Korea, and Thailand also operating Weibo, WeChat, and Xiaohongshu accounts.
The Tourism Administration said that the content promoted on Chinese social media platforms is strictly related to Taiwan's tourism resources, local marketing activities, and promotional offers, urging the public not to overinterpret or blur the importance of Taiwan's tourism promotion.