Taiwan not on tourist map. Do we really care?

Taiwan Living in Taiwan
21

Actually far as I know CAL and EVA flights from europe are packed with westerners (all getting off in BKK) so Im not sure they are avoiding CAL . And they wont avoid EVA because EVA has an excellent flight record. A lot of Americans and Canadians have no problem flying CAL or EVA from north america, far as i know?

But sure, more foreign airlines would help, but they dont seem to be able to make it. The europeans ones drop one by one. Air FRance tried a non stop from Paris, onwards to Nouvelle Caledonie. That flopped. Swissair flopped. British Airways dont fly their 6 times a week to TPE anymore I think. ETc. The only european airline thats successful is KLM. And they have been at it for a long time with TPE.

From the USA. Delta tried but failed. American flying from San Jose to/from TPE didnt work out either. But NOrthwest and United are doing ok?

I dont know if PAL still flys from Manila to Honolulu and then SFO? And back? I used to take that route.

22

PAL has “resumed” HNL/MNL serivce. It never leaves on time. Major issues with pinoy size baggage at checkin.

European tourists, particularly, Germans, are alot more adventurous than Americans. IME, I’ve never seen more than a handful of meiguoren on my CI flights to TPE. On the NW flight DTW/KIX/TPE, most the of Americans leave at KIX and are replaced by nihonjin into TPE. I suspect the same holds true with the UA flight NRT/TPE. Nihonjin like the US carriers’ frequent flyer programs much better than the JP ones.

23

No news there :slight_smile: Those balikbayan boxes gotta go home, one way or another.

24

TT has an article abotu a Swiss couple who have travelled the world and have just covered taiwan. The article is a nice contrast to yesterday’s opinion piece. Just go to the website and see the pics. Some of the nicest I have seen of Taiwan and damn, I wish Lonely Planet had such good ones.

weltrekordreise.ch/p_asie_tw2.html

25

Dude, that Taiwan is plagued by so few tourists from the PRC is one of it’s prime attractions.

26

[quote=“Muzha Man”]TT has an article abotu a Swiss couple who have travelled the world and have just covered taiwan. The article is a nice contrast to yesterday’s opinion piece. Just go to the website and see the pics. Some of the nicest I have seen of Taiwan and damn, I wish Lonely Planet had such good ones.

weltrekordreise.ch/p_asie_tw2.html[/quote]

great pics !!

27

Dude, that Taiwan is plagued by so few tourists from the PRC is one of it’s prime attractions.[/quote]

I agree with that completely. I, too, am worried about the negative effects of crowds of hawking plebs from China flocking to Taiwan’s “prime” tourist sites. I was pointing out one of the reasons why the government initially set such a high target for tourist arrivals (doubling the number in just six years, which would be quite a remarkable achievement) but are not going to be able to achieve it (because the man at the top has been giving the thumbs down to what the lower-level policy-makers and implementers have been wanting and had been expecting to get).

I want to see Taiwan’s tourism industry flourishing, but not with the arrival of package-tour hordes from Britain, etc., as have blighted tourist spots in countries like Thailand, or their equivalent from across the Taiwan Strait. We need visitors who will appreciate and respect what they see, comport themselves in a civilized manner, and be a positive influence on raising standards rather than an excuse for lowering them.

28

[quote=“Omniloquacious”]
I want to see Taiwan’s tourism industry flourishing, but not with the arrival of package-tour hordes from Britain, etc., as have blighted tourist spots in countries like Thailand,
[/quote]The ugly British tourists are drawn by cheap booze, freely available dope and cheap hookers. I doubt Taiwan will ever be very interesting to that type. I hope the local economy never gets into such bad shape that it has to follow the Thai example and allow that sort of attraction to flourish in Taiwan. Well, except the cheap booze that is. :wink:[quote=“Omniloquacious”] …or their equivalent from across the Taiwan Strait. We need visitors who will appreciate and respect what they see, comport themselves in a civilized manner, and be a positive influence on raising standards rather than an excuse for lowering them.[/quote]My thoughts exactly.

29

Back in the 60’s and 70’s adventurers went to places like Bali and Phuket and word of mouth spread back to the west about their attractions. I just haven’t seen that happening very much in Taiwan’s case. Firstly, because Bali and Thailand have such obvious advantages: more accessible, more beaches, cheaper costs, better image…Secondly, very few westerners who pass through here studying, teaching and working get out and explore the island even though there’s plenty of info and opportunities. I guess Taiwan is just a place of limited appeal for the average foreigner…tho’ I think the idea of speciality tours focusing on bird-watching, pottery, cookery classes etc. is a very good one.

As far as I’m concerned, I’m glad I’m not living in the middle of a tourist conveyer belt. Ugh!

30

[quote=“Jah Lynnie”]Back in the 60’s and 70’s adventurers went to places like Bali and Phuket and word of mouth spread back to the west about their attractions. I just haven’t seen that happening very much in Taiwan’s case. Firstly, because Bali and Thailand have such obvious advantages: more accessible, more beaches, cheaper costs, better image…Secondly, very few westerners who pass through here studying, teaching and working get out and explore the island even though there’s plenty of info and opportunities. I guess Taiwan is just a place of limited appeal for the average foreigner…tho’ I think the idea of speciality tours focusing on bird-watching, pottery, cookery classes etc. is a very good one.

As far as I’m concerned, I’m glad I’m not living in the middle of a tourist conveyer belt. Ugh![/quote]

Good point. Look at any place in the world that attracts a large number of tourists year round. They all have at least one special attraction. Here, you get illegal gambling, illegal soft drugs, illegal prostitution and litter everywhere. Why would anyone choose Taiwan for a second visit? Why would they recommend Taiwan as a tourist destination to their friends?
This came up in a business class recently. All employees agreed that Taiwan MUST clean up their litter problem (anyone see the news about Banciao’s litter patrol cops) Next, ask the government why they made prostitution illegal. Legalize it and control it. Licenses, health checks and localized. (Anyone recall the old days around Longshan) Next, ask the government why gambling is illegal yet the government makes money from it with Lotto. Also the corruption from casinos on every block. Look into any so called tea house in a late evening and you will see high stakes poker. All members of the class thought that gambling and prostitution should be legal and well regulated. Also, clean up the trash and require every food vendor to have an available trash bin at the stand. By the way, nobody thought that soft drugs should be legalized but, on the other hand, nobody admitted to trying them either. Anyway, it was an interesting class and showed me that at least some people are seriously pondering increasing tourism.

31

There are many problems with tourism promotion in Taiwan. It’s getting better, but there are so many instances in which they fail to connect to Westerners. Examples:

They promote “local specialties” too much, often to the exclusion of other points of interest. “This town is famous for its bull testicles - a long-standing tradition whose history has been traced back to its origins over five whole years ago (ever since the government encouraged each town to develop a specialty). During your visit here, be sure to stop by at Chen’s House o’ Balls and sample their famous dish, bull testicles simmered tenderly in squid ink. (By the way, there’s bugger all else to see or do here - the only reason to come here is because it’s famous for this dish.)”

They promote areas as being “ideal for wedding photography trips”. “The blue-and-white-painted wind generators give the area a Mediterranean feel - a perfect backdrop for your wedding photos.”

They promote places that have been ruined by industry. “This area was once famous for its picturesque country lanes shaded with camphor trees and cascading Bougainvillea. Now it’s home to the Sixth Naphtha Cracker Plant. Pictured below are its famed smokestacks. And while here, take time to admire the trees in the area, some of which are DECADES OLD!”

Taiwan needs to promote its mountains (esp. hiking and camping), beaches, historical buildings, hot springs, islands - things that appeal to Westerners. It can also promote itself as a crossroads between Northeast and Southeast Asia: from here you can proceed south to the Philippines, then Sabah, and toward Singapore and/or Indonesia; or north to Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and China. And Taiwan’s prohibition of direct flights to and from China definitely puts a crimp on tourism potential. Taiwan should also make car rental an easy and economical option - as it is, car rental here is a hassle and it’s overpriced.

And do something about the garbage, Taiwan!

32

A classic post. :laughing:

33

Now the Govt. is making a general call for fresh ideas on how to promote Taiwan overseas:

GIO launches ad contest

Government Information Office (GIO) Minister Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉) launched a national audiovisual contest on Monday for promotional campaigns about Taiwan. Shieh introduced the “Wow! eye Taiwan” competition at the Affiliated Senior High School of National Taiwan Normal University. How Taiwan promotes itself to foreigners is very important, Shieh said. He said he hoped the competition would attract audio and video works that would introduce Taiwan to foreigners and Taiwanese alike, and that young people would be encouraged to share their visions of Taiwan. He said any individual or group interested in creating a positive image of Taiwan could submit an entry in the four categories – music video, animation, short film and documentary. There were no limits on gender, age or nationality of contestants, he said, adding that the winner would receive NT$500,000.
taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/ … 2003387776

34

An amendment to the above:

Taiwan’s promotion of traditional culture leaves much to be desired. An exhibition of something billed as “traditional Aboriginal dance” may be accompanied by the thumping beat of synthesizer music while obviously Han Chinese dancers perform hyped-up gyrations while wearing Aboriginal costumes in Day-Glo hues. All the while, they will be emceed by a hip Han youngster grinning like the folks from Up With People while she forcefully urges audience participation.

35

You have to consider that a lot of these promotions are not intended for Westerners in North America or Europe, but rather for people in neighboring countries. The wedding photography issue we did was particularly targeted at the HK, Singapore, and Malaysia markets. People there might not have the money to go to Europe, but still want some occidental flair in their wedding pics.

I personally don’t like to write about night markets all the time. I think most of these places are filthy, and the food is not what you would call healthful.

I remember pointing out to colleagues on several occasions that pictures of Kending beaches with the nuclear power plant as backdrop are not really good for promoting traveling in Taiwan. It’s all a learning process, I guess.

36

As hannes noted, Taiwan may be aiming more for other Asian tourists, and quite rightly so, really. It is a little hard to believe that Taiwan will become the new Thailand and millions of Western tourists will fly from North America and Europe to visit here. (I do see lots of Westerners every day craning their necks to take photos of the 101 Building, but I guess a lot of them are in town for trade shows next door.)

What I think holds Taiwan down (for the foreign lower-budget travelers that, is) is what is essentially terrible value for money. Think of what 500NT can afford you in Kenting. Can you even get a room there for that? If you do, you won’t be on the beach, and when you DO visit the beach, well, there’s that nuclear power plant. Now think opf what 500 Baht (at one-to-one with the NT these days) can get you in Thailand. One can live very well for the night, on or right near a clean quiet beach perhaps. The way the economy is in Taiwan, land is at a premium, and it seems there just can’t be a budget scene at all with those kinds of prices.

As for well-heeled tourists, their attention has been caught by too many other places that have done the promo work to tout their spas, villas, and resorts to an INTERNATIONAL crowd. A Taiwanese couple may smack down 7000NT (or thereabouts) to stay at the Howard Plaza Kenting, but it’s extremely unlikely a foreign couple will come all the way to Taiwan for such an experience when Phuket, Langkawi, Goa, or other places are just too well known.

Maybe I’m focusing too much on Taiwan’s sad little “beach resort” when the mountains are so much of a better attraction. As others have noted, Taiwan’s Central Mountains may indeed be the best thing Taiwan has to offer tourists, AND as others have noted, Taiwanese often fail to recognize this fact and instead push the gritty “snack food towns.” Shen Ken anyone?

37

A lot of truth there !! And thats probably one of the reasons Taiwan has never touted itself as THE tourist destination in Asia or even on the top five, or top ten even?

Not enough value to the dollar against Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia , etc. Not enough of an attraction for someone to fly all the way from Europe or USA/ Canada for a week or two. Not enough value for the budget tourist, not enough pizzazz for the high end tourist.

Nope , only good for the long staying foreigner. And thats what it has now.

If Taiwan was a hotel, its not a five star beach resort (although it could become a five star mountain retreat), its only a four star biz hotel or a 3 star long stay hotel.

But its plenty fun for long timers who can take the time to LIVE on Taiwan and not just visit. Or make it a visit, but its a 2 or 3 year (at least) kinda visit.

Taiwans got foreign tourists !! You are it !!

Asians love to visit though. Taiwan is a top drawer for Singaporeans after they have done the European and the North American things. Its a top destination for many Japanese (older ones it seems). And for HK people, its a stone skip away and is a lot of fun and breathing space to escape to compared to HK. Taiwanese love to visit HK and vice versa.

38

they are, but…

take away the typhoons, torrential rains, mudslides, cut-off roads, earthquakes, and the lack of public transportation, visiting the mountains would be much easier to promote

I have heard people say Taiwan could be like Switzerland, yeah right… :unamused:

39

If I were marketing this country to the Western market, I would gear it more towards the middle age crowd. People that have had kids, the kids have moved on, the couple is either in retirement or about to be.

My parents love Taiwan. Why? I don’t know. But I’m not that old yet.

But they hate what we might as well call the things that most foreigners hate, but are promoted anyway - night markets, chicken feet, stinky tofu, and Karaoke ruining a perfectly good view or a good night’s sleep.

What people really want to see that come here is a slice of a different culture with the familiarity that they’re in a safe place. Cambodia, Thailand, etc. all definitely present a different culture. But with all the poverty around, I do not know how thrilled my parents would be to visit such a place.

I say Taiwan should develop some tours that people in that age group want to see, but still can’t get in their own country. A religious tour - where people visit various temples and are guided by someone who actually knows what they’re looking at. (I studied religion, but I don’t know 95% of the time exactly what things mean in the temples). That’s something you cannot get in America or most Western cultures.

What is there to do at night? Honestly! The night market does not appeal to the middle age group because, of many reasons, they don’t like crowds. And there’s nothing really to buy there. Might find a few interesting things, but how many people are going to be flocking here to get a sticky ball and a shirt that doesn’t fit with Chinglish writing on it? Only to have a good night cap of a chicken foot on a stick. Taiwan, especially Taipei (where most will end up anyway) needs to develop some sort of ideas for a night life for the tourists. During the day, they can visit the temples, mountains, Taipei 101, etc. Later, they can relax in a fancy (read: expensive) steak restaurant or catch a symphony or other event.

Taiwan might not be good for tourism, but have they really spent much money or time to find out what tourists want? It seems they have that contest, but they have absolutely no business plan on what type of image they are trying to portray. Getting people to come here is about portraying an image of what they are going to see then having the means to deliver that image once they arrive. But for people to buy into the image, people have to want it. It seems Taiwan is grasping at straws to develop an image that nobody cares about.

Matt

40

Hiking, trekking, and river tracing is fine, but rock-climbing for example is only possible in some small places like Longdong. Also without snow, there are no winter sports, which could draw mountain lovers.