TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Transportation and Communications'(MOTC, 交痛部) Tourism Administration (觀光署) announced on Tuesday (July 8) that Sun Moon Lake (日月潭), Penghu (澎湖), and the North Coast (北海岸) and Guanyinshan (觀音山) have received this year's Green Destinations Awards.
The Green Destinations Awards program combines the Green Destinations and Quality Coast certifications, adhering to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council's (GSTC) guidelines. The certification process spans two to three years of preparation and operation, culminating in evaluations by professional auditors from international certification bodies. Sun Moon Lake's management office first secured a silver certification in 2022 and has again received this accolade after a successful reassessment.
After three years of preparation, Penghu National Scenic Area Headquarters (澎湖國家風景區管理處) earned its first award, marking it as Taiwan's first outlying island scenic area to achieve this honor. Meanwhile, the North Coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic Area Headquarters (北海岸及觀音山國家風景區管理處) added this certification after being named in the Top 100 Green Destinations Stories in 2023 and 2024.
The Tourism Administration stated it will continue promoting tourism models that emphasize environmental resilience and community integration, focusing on global sustainable tourism standards. The administration aims to blend local culture, ecological conservation, and social participation in future initiatives.