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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Economy & Trade

Taichung councilors criticize national tourism subsidy for neglecting local eateries

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation will launch a national tourism subsidy program in September.
  • Local councilors in Taichung criticized the plan, arguing it fails to benefit small eateries and local food businesses.
  • Officials stated that over 320 of Taichung's 500-plus legal accommodations have joined the subsidy program.

Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation is set to roll out a national tourism subsidy program starting September 1, offering up to NT$2,000 per night for weekday accommodations. However, the initiative has drawn criticism from local councilors in Taichung, who argue it overlooks small businesses and local culinary traditions.

Taichung is not ready, and small eateries like 'da mian geng' and 'ma yi' will not benefit from the tourism.

— Chen Ya-huiTaichung City Councilor Chen Ya-hui criticized the national tourism subsidy program's lack of focus on local food businesses.

Taichung City councilors, including Chen Ya-hui, Xie Jia-yi, Chen Shu-hua, and Xiao Long-ze, expressed concern that the subsidy program, running until November 30, does not adequately support Taichung's unique local food scene. Chen Ya-hui specifically pointed to iconic local snacks like "da mian geng" (large flour-based cake) and "ma yi" (mallow greens), questioning whether the city has plans to integrate these into the tourism boost.

The central subsidy program is about to launch, but what is Taichung doing to attract and retain visitors?

— Chen Ya-huiCouncilor Chen Ya-hui questioned the city's strategy for leveraging the tourism subsidy.

"The central subsidy program is about to launch, but what is Taichung doing to attract and retain visitors?" Chen Ya-hui asked, contrasting it with Taipei's upcoming International Beef Noodle Festival. She urged the city to move beyond promoting Michelin-starred restaurants and instead focus on creating memorable experiences tied to Taichung's distinctive flavors and culinary heritage.

Taichung cannot just promote Michelin restaurants; it must also let tourists remember Taichung's characteristics and flavors.

— Chen Ya-huiChen Ya-hui emphasized the need to promote local culinary identity alongside fine dining.

Responding to the criticism, Taichung's Tourism and Travel Bureau Director Chen Mei-hsiu stated that the city would collaborate with the tourism and accommodation industries for over three months to promote the program. She noted that out of approximately 500 legal accommodations in Taichung, more than 320 have already registered for the central government's subsidy plan, aiming to benefit over 300 local businesses. The city aims to leverage the subsidy to stimulate local tourism and economic activity.

We will assist the tourism and accommodation industry in promotion during the more than three months of the national tourism subsidy.

— Chen Mei-hsiuTaichung Tourism and Travel Bureau Director Chen Mei-hsiu outlined the city's promotional plans.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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