Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun stressed Jan. 22 that tourism is an element of Taiwan’s soft power and urged ministries and agencies to work together to bolster the country’s sustainable tourism.
The vice premier made the remarks at a tourism revitalization discussion held by the Executive Yuan in Taipei City.
During the meeting, the Tourism Administration proposed two flagship plans. The first aims to attract more international tourists to Taiwan on the strength of the country’s abundant culture and history, geology and landscape, as well as its significant ecological conservation, the TA said, adding that the administration will cooperate with the Ministries of Agriculture, Culture and the Interior to implement the plan.
Equally important is a plan focusing on sustainable tourism, the TA said. The administration will adopt measures including improving infrastructure in 50 national scenic areas and focusing on tourist spots in southern cities of Kaohsiung and Tainan, the northern city of Taoyuan and its neighboring Miaoli County, the northeastern county of Yilan and the eastern county of Hualien, it added.
According to Cheng, tourism plays a key role in the National Project of Hope proposed by President Lai Ching-te, and personnel cultivation is of great importance. She instructed the TA to help establish an academy for tourism within one year to conduct market research and surveys while nurturing professional personnel.
Due to ongoing personnel demand from the tourism sector, Cheng cited measures like relaxing policies to allow more foreign and overseas Taiwan students to stay and work in the country after graduation. She also asked the TA to cooperate with the Ministry of Labor to encourage diverse groups such as elders and women seeking re-employment to take jobs in the tourism industry while expressing a desire to shape Taiwan into a country friendly to young travelers. (YCH-E)
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