Ministry of Transportation and Communications: Strongly targeting independent Japanese travelers in the Kansai region

The Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications values the development of diverse markets in Western Japan. In conjunction with Taiwan Day held in June of this year (2018) at Hanshin Koshien Stadium, it specially exhibited "Robot No. 1001" by teacher Li Mingdao (AKIBO) to recommend a Taiwan design tour, and promoted the charm of Taiwan tourism with the Sanyo Electric Railway "Meet Colors! Taiwan" wrapped train.

To attract more independent travelers and repeat visitors to Taiwan, the Tourism Bureau cooperated with the Japanese Sankei Shimbun to exhibit works by teacher Li Mingdao (AKIBO), including "Robot No. 1001 mr.ten and miss.one," in Osaka from June 3 to 10, and recommended his public art works displayed around Taiwan, such as Taitung Tiehua Village, the Tainan Blueprint Cultural and Creative Park, the Jiji Line, and Nangang Station. A map of public art works was also produced to promote Taiwan contemporary art to people in the Kansai region, inviting them to experience the new charm of a Taiwan design tour with all five senses.

The "Meet Colors! Taiwan" wrapped train, a collaboration between the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and Sanyo Electric Railway, has been highly acclaimed. To strengthen promotion and continue friendly railway exchanges, the bureau reorganized and added floor decals, extending the overall display period of the wrapped train to June 2020. It also tied in with the bay light travel concept of the Formosa Summer Festival by painting real scenes such as the Sun Moon Lake bicycle path and the ecological nature of offshore islands inside the train cars, allowing passengers to feel as if they were there in person, which drew attention from the Japanese media.

On June 6, Tourism Bureau Director-General Zhou Yonghui and Sanyo Electric Railway President Uekado Kazuhiro jointly participated in an activity with a painted cardboard train model, and connected by video link with students from Tegara Elementary School in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, near Kameyama Station in Japan, to encourage and thank the children for taking part in using cardboard Taiwan train models to paint the charm of their own hometowns.