Premier Liu Chao-shiuan (劉兆玄) announced yesterday that the annual Taiwan Lantern Festival — one of the most significant events on the country’s calendar — would be held in Chiayi City next year.
Liu made the announcement in a meeting with Chiayi Mayor Huang Ming-hui (黃敏惠) and other city officials during a visit to the city to attend the 49th National Primary and High School Science Fair held at National Chiayi University, a two-day event. Huang, a Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) member, described the chance to host the annual festival as a “big gift” from the Executive Yuan.
The festival is held each year in a different county or city on the 15th day of the first month of the lunar year. As an event with prominent cultural and local folk traditions, the Lantern Festival is an important tourist attraction.
Liu told Huang that he was impressed by the efficiency with which the city had carried out the central government’s construction projects, which were designed to expand domestic demand, as well as its success in organizing a fireworks display for the official celebration of last year’s Double Ten National Day.
“These achievements are why the central government decided to entrust Chiayi City with organizing the Lantern Festival,” he said.
Foreign tourists who purchase a seven-day Taiwan Pass are to get a second one free of charge as part of a government bid to boost tourism, the Tourism Administration said yesterday. A pair of Taiwan Passes is priced at NT$5,000 (US$156.44), an agency staff member said, adding that the passes can be used separately. The pass can be used in many of Taiwan’s major cities and to travel to several tourist resorts. It expires seven days after it is first used. The pass is a three-in-one package covering the high-speed rail system, mass rapid transport (MRT) services and the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle services,
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