Premier Jiang Yi-huah recommended cycling as an excellent way to get to know Taiwan at a press conference held in Luye Township, Taitung County today to promote bike tours and eastern Taiwan's comprehensive cycling path network.
"I encourage all young people to cycle around Taiwan before settling down so they can learn about this land and interact with people from every area," he said.
"From the East Rift Valley to the coastal highways, Taitung's bike paths offer exceptionally beautiful scenery. Very few places in the world are both so well-suited for cycling and so picturesque and relaxing," he stated. He also noted that cycling is one of the country's most important leisure industries.
"Taitung is blessed with abundant tourism resources. People can not only cycle here but also engage in other activities such as whitewater rafting and hot air ballooning—which I will personally experience today and tomorrow," he said, highlighting the availability of water- and air- as well as land-based leisure in the area.
Tourism is one of the six emerging industries and 10 key service industries currently being promoted by the Executive Yuan, Jiang pointed out. "In addition to helping people to relax and re-energize, tourism is very important to Taiwan's economic development," he stated.
The premier urged the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to join forces with relevant agencies to unearth more attractions and festivals for development and promotion so Taiwan's tourism industry can expand its niche in the international marketplace.
Premier Jiang also encouraged Taiwanese families to take trips during summer vacation and organize recreational activities throughout the year, saying these activities are conducive to good health and would also foster the development of the tourism, sports and recreation industries.
The press conference was paired with a cycling event, in which the premier participated.
Afterward, Jiang attended the Taiwan International Balloon Fiesta at the Luye Terrace. He took a hot air balloon ride there in the company of Sun Ta-chuan, minister of the Council of Indigenous Peoples.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) said the establishment of Taitung's bike path network promotes the tourism industry, a network for healthy tourism, urban and rural renewal, and green transportation and opens up Taitung's unique mountainous and aquatic scenery for citizens to enjoy.
The MOE's Sports Administration plans to inject NT$1.2 billion (US$40 million) into the construction of 470 additional kilometers of bicycle lanes during a four-year program between 2013 and 2016. The MOE expects the completion of the island-wide trail network to boost the tourism and recreation industries and turn Taiwan into a cycling haven.
Next month, the Sports Administration will unveil a round-the-island bicycle tour serving as a rite of passage for youths. Over 100 young people will be invited to participate in the 1,000-kilometer journey, during which they will learn about teamwork and embracing challenges. The activity will also cultivate the youths' love for and commitment to Taiwan, the MOE said.