The historical factors related to Taiwan's particular cultural development have resulted in a society largely based on tolerance. The country has many unique cultural aspects. Not only are there Aboriginal cultures, but also a cultural influence from the early Minnan and Hakka immigrants. The country is also influenced by the Dutch, Spanish and the Japanese -- and the culture of those who followed the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) to Taiwan after they lost the Chinese civil war.
Modern economics tends to overlook the sources of creativity found in a diversity of cultures. This creativity has developed against a rich cultural background. Figuring out how to make the Taiwanese people understand the rich cultural backgrounds that surround them, and turning it into an industry to improve our quality of life, is a goal worth striving for.
Economic development strategies put too much emphasis on productivity growth and ignore quality of life. The way in which local cultural traits have been ignored highlights the lack of effective, creative planning.
As average personal incomes increase, Taiwanese people pay more and more attention to quality of life, travel and leisure time. One way to encourage people to travel domestically and promote local economic development is to highlight the many cultural backgrounds within Taiwan. Proper marketing strategies would be a boon for the local tourism industry.
Taiwan is a society of unlimited vitality and rich with folk customs and traditions. The King Boat ceremony in Tungkang Township, Pingtung County; the Lantern Festival fireworks display in Yenshui, Tainan County; the Matsu pilgrimage that begins in Tachia, Taichung County; and the water lantern activities during the Pudu festival in Keelung are just a few examples. In addition, activities highlighting the Hakka Tung Blossom Festival, and the Aboriginal Harvest, Ancestral and Hunting Ceremonies are all well known by both locals and foreigners alike.
In order to improve the tourism industry and elevate the quality of life, the government should encourage county and city officials to give free rein to diverse sources of creativity and hold a multitude of different local traditional festivals, ceremonies and theme exhibitions in order to have each city and county develop at least one special attraction.
This would draw even more domestic and foreign tourists and create opportunities for local economic development. I think that by taking advantage of our cultural foundations, we could get tourism going and invigorate the economy.
Chen Lung-chu is the chairman of the Taiwan New Century Foundation, a senior researcher at Yale University and a professor of law at the New York Law School.
Translated by Perry Svensson
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