Taiwan gears for tourism explosion

Aggressive marketing has begun to make Taiwan a top tourist destination in Asia-Pacific, a region rich with cultural diversity, booming economies and big-spending visitors.

The tourism campaign forms part of a comprehensive and focused six-year strategy, called the National Development Plan, which was launched on January 1. The plan is aimed at restructuring the economy of the tiny island, changing the key components of its industrial base and streamlining the way government agencies work, to make dealing with them less cumbersome and bureaucratic.

The objective: to double the number of in-bound visitors, from its present 2,6 million annually, in six years.

In 2001 tourists spent close to R36-billion in Taiwan
In anticipation of an increased number of visitors, work has begun on 47 new hotels which, when completed, will deliver an additional 10 000 rooms, taking the total to 30 000.

In 2001 tourists spent close to R36-billion in Taiwan - which is expected to double by 2008.

The largest number of foreign visitors are from Japan - about 37 percent - second is Hong Kong at 16% and third the US. For their part, and contribution to the local and foreign tourism industries, about 18 million of Taiwan's population of 22 million take a holiday at least once a year.

Leisure industry leaders in the capital said the thrust of their marketing campaign contained messages that sold the country as a venue for relaxation, good and a varied selection of food, excellent shopping and sightseeing, especially at the Central Mountain range in the Taroko National Park, eastern Taiwan. Here, travel has been made easy through the use of freeways and tunnels cut through the mountains.

Luxurious doubledecker buses and motor cars move thousands of tourists through the mountains to see some of the most breath-taking sights in Asia-Pacific, and perhaps the world.

More than 30 companies are directly involved in tourism
The tunnels and roads are an illustration of the ingenuity of civil engineering and a celebration of its accomplishments.

The economic success story that is Taiwan is also mentioned in the tourism marketing campaign. It is being used in the context that better times have arrived in the country - the evidence for which is found in the improved quality of life, a sharp drop in unemployment and increased business activity.

There are now more than 30 companies directly involved in the tourism sector, and service providers have in their employment about 50 percent of all of those who hold jobs.

In order to protect the integrity of the tourism industry, the state-created national tourism authority has put into place mechanisms that deal with complaints. It is also able to issue sanctions if guilt is proved in the case of the service provider.

And it seems one of the key objectives of the exercise has been achieved - there has been a drastic drop in the number of complaints against tourism-related businesses and service providers.


Taiwan: At a Glance



Taiwan is an island and has a population of 22 million. Its closest neighbour is mainland China, from which it relocated in 1949.


The seat of power is Taipei, the capital and a sophisticated and highly developed city, of first world standard. The system of government is democracy.


Unemployment stands at 4.5%, which numerically is believed to amount to about 500 000. The rate of crime is low, which makes Taiwan one of the safest countries in Asia-Pacific.


The currency of Taiwan is called the New Taiwan Dollar (NTD). One $1 US buys 34 NTDs

The main language spoken in Taiwan is Chinese. However, most Taiwanese can also speak English.

- INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPERS (SOUTH AFRICA)