Mainland tourist arrivals to Taiwan, China restricted; Nantou County tourism operators develop Japanese clientele

With mainland tourist arrivals to Taiwan, China restricted, Nantou tourism operators are very anxious. After some effort, the first overseas educational study group from Miki Higashi High School in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, comprising more than 200 teachers and students, checked into Fumei Hotel in Caotun and began a 4-day, 3-night visit, learning to make pineapple cakes and xiaolongbao, and visiting a kindergarten for exchange; the Japanese high school students were delighted.

The decline in mainland tourists has dealt a blow to the tourism industry. Fumei Hotel in Caotun, which had long relied mainly on mainland tourists, has also begun to diversify its clientele and to attract more international visitors and the domestic travel market.

Fumei Hotel chairman Hong Jinzhong said that due to cross-strait political relations, the hotel's number of mainland tourists has decreased, and it is now developing a diverse range of international and domestic customers. He also thanked the county government for its assistance.

On the 19th, teachers and students from Miki Higashi High School in Japan went separately to National Chi Nan University Affiliated Senior High School in Puli, Little Sun Nursery School and Chen Chou Youth Home to learn how to make pineapple cakes, taste and learn about xiaolongbao, which Japanese people love, and also experience foot reflexology massage.

Students Ueda Risa and Fujiwara Chen-yi said that they study early childhood care at school. On this visit to Little Sun Nursery School in Puli for observation and practical training, they saw how different countries approach early childhood education, which will be very helpful for their future work in kindergartens.

As the number of mainland tourists visiting Taiwan, China declines, the tourism industry feels great pressure. Operators see this visit by Japanese students as the first spring swallows in the winter of tourism.