Government agencies in charge of indigenous affairs and tourism have teamed up to promote an in-depth tourism initiative that aims to boost the economy and culture of indigenous villages, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said today.
After being briefed by the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) on the plan, which begins from the eastern coast of Taiwan, the premier said that indigenous peoples are important historical and cultural heritage for Taiwan, as well as a valuable tourism resource. Each of Taiwan's 16 indigenous groups boasts its own unique culture, language, customs and social structure.
"This plan is a potential solution for young indigenous people returning home for work and for those who have not adapted well to city life," indicated the premier. He hopes this plan will help more businesses take root in indigenous communities.
The CIP has been bringing in many private resources and cooperating with other agencies to promote this initiative, producing encouraging results so far. The premier asked the agencies to continue collaborating on remaining issues such as infrastructure and traffic so that the quality and visibility of tribal tourism will be raised.
Premier Jiang touted significant infrastructural improvements in indigenous communities during the last three decades. He said visitors nowadays can enjoy rich tourism resources such as boating activities, delicious foods and safe travel facilities. Visitor centers set up by the CIP and the MOTC's Tourism Bureau provide suggested travel itineraries and guided tours of indigenous culture and cuisine, not only offering travelers leisure opportunities but also enhancing their understanding and respect for indigenous cultures. The promotion plan has seen great success in Hualien and Taitung counties, and the premier hopes to see such experiences applied to indigenous villages in the central and southern parts of Taiwan.
The premier praised the Tourism Bureau's East Coast National Scenic Area Administration for developing precious tourism resources and cultivating a reputation for east coast indigenous tourism both domestically and internationally. Jiang encouraged the CIP, MOTC and the Hakka Affairs Council to continue building the economic strengths and potentials of these rural areas.
The CIP said it has designed five travel packages for Hualien and Taitung since it began the initiative. It coordinated with the MOTC to make more train seats available for the growing numbers of tourists heading east, and will cooperate with the Ministry of the Interior to allow independent mainland tourists to experience the beauty of indigenous cultures. The CIP plans to designate some 20 villages as showcase sites and expects to attract over 50,000 visitors each year.
Meanwhile, the MOTC said it collaborated with the Ministry of Economic Affairs on a project to develop and market the east coast indigenous tourism industry. It was also commissioned by the CIP to develop special tourism products for Hualien's mountainous and coastal areas. These efforts aim to develop tourism attractions that are unique to each indigenous group, help local businesses take root and grow, provide jobs for returning young people, and help pass on their indigenous heritage.
Looking ahead, the MOTC and its national scenic area administration offices will work closely with regional indigenous tourism associations. They will apply successful tourism promotion experiences from the east coast to other national scenic areas across Taiwan such as the East Rift Valley, Sun Moon Lake, Alishan, Maolin and Tri-Mountain.