HUALIEN (TVBS News) — Hualien County is gearing up for its 2025 New Year's Eve celebrations, but local lodging rates remain low, with the Taiwan Railway Corporation (台鐵) still having available tickets and occupancy rates in hotels and homestays below 40%. Lin Hsu Tse-yu (林徐則鈾), head of an association representing bed-and-breakfast owners in Hualien, attributes the low occupancy to the singular day off for New Year's Eve, contrasting with numerous events in January. These include Mayday's (五月天) charity concert on Jan. 18 and the Lunar New Year holidays at the month's end.
Hualien County Government will host the Hualien New Year's Party (太平洋觀光節) at East Gate Square (東大門廣場) on Dec. 31, featuring performances by Matzka and a 180-second fireworks display. Local lodging businesses report hotel occupancy at about 40% on Dec. 31, while homestays range from 25% to 30%. This is comparable to regular holiday periods. Lin Hsu Tse-yu also notes that the launch of direct flights by HK Express (香港快運) to Hualien has significantly boosted weekday occupancy rates, particularly in the central and southern areas. Meanwhile, Andrew Yang (楊舜安), Hualien Train Station chief, highlights the addition of two trains from Shulin to Hualien during the New Year period.
Existing and additional train services still have seats available. Yang advises travelers to plan ahead and book tickets to visit Hualien. With ample transportation options and upcoming events, Hualien remains an attractive destination for travelers planning their holiday getaways.