Premier Sean Chen emphasized the importance of tourism to Matsu's future when he inspected Matsu Beigan Airport today. "The military has been the basis for Matsu's economic development over the years," he said. "Matsu will need to serve an army in the future, as well—an army of tourists, that is."
"As Magistrate Yang Sui-sheng says, Matsu has a unique mixture of eastern Minnan culture, religion, ecology and military tradition," he continued. "Matsu has immense potential for tourism. It only needs good marketing and promotion."
Chen noted that infrastructure must be considered when developing a potential tourist site, and he believes that Minister of Transportation and Communications Mao Chi-kuo "already has a very clear picture in mind" of what is needed in Matsu. All the elements of this plan will be implemented concurrently, Chen indicated. He promised the Executive Yuan would support these projects and do everything it can for Matsu's future.
As for the private proposal to build a casino resort on the archipelago, Premier Chen said that the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has received the Council for Economic Planning and Development's review of the project, and he has instructed Minister Mao to properly respond to it as soon as possible.