Improving Taiwan's tourism industry has been a recurring issue in recent years. The government has named this year and next as the "Tour Taiwan Years," and is actively promoting local tourism to Japanese and South Koreans using the popular boy band F4. Eleven theme-tour packages are also being offered, including nostalgia, wedding photography and mountain hiking tours.
While we all appreciate efforts to promote local tourism, the ultimate goal of tourism is not merely to make tourists find value in particular destinations, but to make the overall experience an impressive one that will make them want to come back. For Taiwan to amaze tourists, an urgent overhaul of the nation's image is required.
"Nation's image" means the cultural landscape that can be seen at any time during a trip. One part if this image is the scenery alongside railroads or Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) lines -- for many tourists, this is an important way of gauging how developed a country is.
However, someone taking a train along the west coast would likely describe the scenery as "dilapidated." Especially during the few minutes before the train enters a railway station, we often see the black, mottled and molding back walls of houses with iron windows, buildings constructed of sheet metal, clothes hung out to dry, wild brush and garbage dumps. This has been the picture for half a century and it isn't improving.
Moreover, landscape planning along MRT lines is also closely related to tourism aesthetics. Although Taipei's MRT has been touted for its stability and comfort, the wild brush, piles of garbage and disorderly arranged houses along part of the elevated sections of the Muzha and Tamshui lines could easily leave a negative impression on tourists.
We suggest that the government extend its four urban renewal projects to include plans to beautify the scenery along railroads and the Taipei MRT system.
Another important part of the image are the signboards and advertisements on buildings. Taiwan's regulations do not seem to impose any restrictions on the size, shape and direction of shop signs or how far they can jut out from a building. People also randomly put up flyers or banners, adding to the chaotic and confusing cityscape.
If city and county governments could reach a consensus on the reorganization of street signboards, subsidize the replacement and renovation of signs and remove randomly posted flyers, the effect would be a miraculously rejuvenated Taiwan.
The community landscape near tourist attractions should also be improved. Substantial funds should be invested in any community of tourist value and residents in those communities should form groups to take charge of organizing and managing their beautification. As the government is now promoting community-centered travel packages, many scenic spots have lost their color and charm because of disorganized sprinklings of street vendors.
Examples include the Shihsanhang Museum of Archeology in Bali Township (八里), Taipei County, the Chichi Train Station in Nantou County, Kenting (墾丁) and other beach resorts. Street vendors should be strictly regulated and made part of the communities' landscape projects.
The wish to beautify Taiwan and turn it into a tourist destination filled with self respect and dignity is a common wish that surpasses the blue-green political divide.
"Formosa" should not just be a name, but also a beautiful ideal of aesthetics -- a gentle force to boost the nation's tourism.
Chiang Wen-yu is an associate professor in the Graduate Institute of Linguistics at National Taiwan University.
Translated by Ted Yang
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