TAITUNG (TVBS News) — Taitung County Magistrate Yao Ching-ling (饒慶鈴) announced plans on Friday (Jan. 17) to launch in-depth tourism packages encouraging visitors to stay at least two nights. This initiative coincides with China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism's (中國文化和旅遊部) decision to resume group tours to Taiwan for residents of Fujian and Shanghai, marking a significant opportunity for Taitung's tourism development.
Yao emphasized the importance of quality tourism, noting that past tours often rushed through Taitung. She aims to revitalize local tourism by promoting more immersive experiences. Yao expressed her hope to rejuvenate the local tourism industry through these enhanced offerings. In addition to attracting tourists from China, Yao is actively courting visitors from Southeast Asia, with charter flights from Thailand and Vietnam increasing. She pledged continued collaboration with central government agencies and cross-strait tourism businesses to bolster these efforts.
Meanwhile, Hsu Chen-wei (徐榛蔚), the magistrate of Hualien County, welcomed the resumption of group tours from Shanghai and Fujian via a Facebook post. She called for equal and reciprocal treatment from Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (陸委會) and the Tourism Administration (觀光署) to inject new vitality into Hualien's tourism sector. Hsu highlighted her team's efforts in international exchanges, which have successfully reopened the export of over 500 tons of Hualien pomelos to China and attracted global visitors.