New Taipei City Moves to Legalize Wulai Tourism Businesses

New Taipei City councilors are pushing for a local ordinance to legalize and guide the tourism accommodation industry in the popular hot spring district of Wulai. The proposed "New Taipei City Wulai District Tourism Accommodation Industry Legalization Guidance Autonomous Ordinance" seeks to address the challenges faced by businesses in the area, which are restricted due to its location within the Qintan Reservoir water quality and quantity protection zone and indigenous land regulations. Councilors, including Chen Yung-fu, argue that the ordinance is crucial for the survival of Wulai's tourism sector, which has seen a significant decline. They propose prioritizing guidance and setting deadlines for existing businesses to improve their service quality, emphasizing that strict regulations have led to a near standstill in the hot spring industry, with operators facing heavy fines. However, the proposal faced some procedural debate. Councilor Chen Yi-chun advocated for a more thorough discussion through the legal committee before a full assembly review, citing the absence of all indigenous councilors during the initial session. This led to a negotiation, with Speaker Chiang Ken-huang ultimately deciding to send the ordinance to the legal committee first, with a second reading scheduled for August 28. Other councilors, like Ma Chien Lahuy Ipin, highlighted Wulai's neglect in the city's tourism development plans and the urgent need for the ordinance to be passed within the current legislative session. Councilor Lin Chin-chieh raised concerns about potential conflicts between the city ordinance and regulations set by the Wulai District representative assembly. Tourism and Information Department Director Yang Tsung-min acknowledged the relevance of the ordinance to his department and stated the need to review existing laws. Following discussions and a brief recess for negotiation, the decision was made to proceed with the legal committee review before the second reading in the assembly. The aim is to provide a path forward for Wulai's struggling tourism businesses while considering environmental and safety concerns.

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Wulai's tourism has plummeted. Restricted by regulations, Wulai's hot spring industry has almost come to a halt, otherwise it will face huge fines. We hope to seize the time of the assembly to quickly pass this autonomous ordinance for second reading.