More similar weather to Philippines and some areas of India, too 
The problem I am talking about is the lack of clarity about the legality of foreign nationals doing remote work in Taiwan without a work permit.
We don’t need to worry about Taiwanese companies doing the things you mentioned for now. Very few are sophisticated enough and there is little demand. Let’s not let possible future risks get in the way of a small concrete improvement now.
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好，好，好
“Don’t let perfection get in the way of progress”
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Luring digital nomads to Tainan is the worst idea possible, it will just result in foreigners telling everyone how crap and run down Taiwan is if their main experience of the country is that shit hole.
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If Tainan has youbikes, I can see that working out.
Otherwise, with its shamefully inadequate public transport . . . maybe not. Why not then just go live in Phnom Penh?
Guy
Why do we want to attract cost sensitive digital nomads who can only afford to scape by in a third tier city?
All efforts at the start should focus on Taipei. It’s the hub where most things happen and is such an easier base for nomads. They should focus on creating western standard co-working spaces in the capital, just like you get in places like Bali / Bangkok, rather than pushing people into the most run down cities in the country. It’s a sure fire way to just leave a bad first impression of the whole scheme.
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I doubt they’re targeting people who want to open businesses, it’s already ridiculously easy and cheap to get a three year visa here if you want to start a business. Digital nomads typically already have their own business or work for another business remotely.
Can’t see many digital nomads wanting to ride a bicycle through Tainan’s chaotic streets.
For me it sounds like fun!
Your posts in this thread however do give off a Puli, Nantou, circa 2006 vibe. For those unfamiliar with this historical moment, that’s when some enterprising types attempted to market the town of Puli as a great place for Japanese retirees. When said retirees came and experienced the actually existing town of Puli circa 2006, things did not go well, as this classic thread makes clear:
From that thread:
A Japanese couple, the first foreigners to stay in Puli on a Long Stay visa, yesterday cut their three month stay short and left after less than a month, full of complaints about the region.
The couple surnamed Nakamura, left after two weeks of stay in a Puli township, said there was nothing good about it, citing issues such as air pollution and water quality.
… the couple soon had a complete change of heart, bitterly criticized Puli and said they felt cheated.
They said there were too many motor exhaust fumes and the Taiwan government should be subsidizing a electric trams and trains. They also said there were too many dog droppings on the pavement, which could spread disease.
In addition, they complained their apartment was too humid and had no clothes dryer and plate dryer. They also said tap water was not suitable for drinking.
Will Tainan 2025 have a similar fate?
Guy
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Nobody is being pushed to Tainan. Most will stay in Taipei. Taiwan is not for people who are sensitive or worried about things about being ‘run-down’. There’s no way to hide these things.
The kind of people who are going to like Taiwan will love Tainan. Those who want ‘western standard co-working spaces’ can go enjoy them in Bali or Bangkok. Good riddance.
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Good riddance to high earners used to a modern work environment? Bold strategy, can’t see why it’s in the interests of the government though.
Attracting new people means offering something new rather than doing the same things you’ve always done and expecting a different result.
Liking one part of a country doesn’t automatically equate to liking all parts. Just because someone likes London doesn’t mean they’ll like Grimbsy. There’s a reason why people choose to pay much higher rents to live in Taipei when they could pay a fraction of the costs to live in Tainan. I’ve lived in Taiwan a decade. Love Taipei, like Taichung and Kaohsiung, and think Tainan is a run-down dump.
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Taiwan doesn’t need digital nomads. It’s nice to have a few around though. Taiwan has plenty of high income folks already.
The big problem with attracting people is getting them to come in the first place. A high percentage of those who do come are interested in staying. Things like the digital nomad visa facilitate that.
Taiwan is not going to offer anything new and nor is it really capable of doing so. When it tries, it loses its mojo. Love it or leave it.
Personally I prefer run down dumps like Tainan. Cheaper food, rent, and it actually has some character unlike the row after row of shitty concrete condos the cities love to put up everywhere in the name of gentrification.
If expats want more of the same they can stay home where it’s the same or they have the option of Taipei where they can pay outrageous rents for low quality housing stock.
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As someone who’s never spent any significant time farther south than Taichung, now I want to spend a weekend in Tainan to see it for myself.
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Character is charming old aesthetically-pleasing buildings from a bygone era. Tainan is mostly decaying high-rises from the 70s that make the whole city look like a ramshackle factory that’s fallen into disrepair.
Taipei still has some of those shitty old buildings, but they’ve got rid of a huge amount of them and replaced them with much better-looking ones instead.
Don’t expect cheap construction of today to look nice in a decade or so. I prefer the shitty old buildings myself. That’s the design like it or hate it.
If they were such high-earners they would get a gold card… this new program ‘digital nomad visitor visa’ is more of a step up (or down?) from a working holiday arrangement.
I saw a video of a couple who appeared to be digital nomad workers… they were staying in a shitty run down apartment in Kaohsiung and scamming a whole day in a Starbucks to work with a ridiculously big setup of computer stands etc on the Starbucks table… doesn’t even appear such people want to spring for co-working spaces in Kaohsiung let alone Taipei.
OK now I am starting to get the hang of your preferences: soulless blocks of luxury high rises and endless rows of department stores in Xinyi!!! 
Guy
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I’d much prefer that over decaying shacks.
Yes this is what I am observing.
Guy
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