Be a better tourist
Over the Tomb Sweeping Day holiday, a record of about 400,000 travelers passed through Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in a single day. Trips to Japan are still the first choice of many Taiwanese tourists. To avoid making fools of themselves due to cultural differences or misunderstanding customs, travelers must remember the adage: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
However, tourists have lately been behaving poorly. For example, a reporter allegedly committed disorderly conduct and disturbed locals just to get a beautiful shot of Mount Fuji. In Gion, Kyoto’s famous geisha district, the local government resorted to banning tourists from certain areas after a visitor grabbed a geisha to take a picture.
In addition, many tourists eat while they walk, leaving trash all over the place. Others do not abide by traffic rules, make a racket on the train or do not put their cellphones on silent mode — all common mistakes committed by Taiwanese tourists.
Many years ago, while riding on a crowded train, the large backpack I was wearing repeatedly bumped an elderly man standing behind me. After getting slapped by the old man a few times and being reminded by the tour guide, I promptly corrected my behavior.
“Erratic behavior is forbidden” (do not behave in a way that would disturb others) is the guiding principle for the self-disciplined and law-abiding Japanese. In Japan, the majority of people carry plastic bags to bring their trash home with them. This has also influenced foreign travelers in return, to the extent that practically everyone participates and litter is rarely seen in scenic areas.
Regarding domestic travel, whether it is the “Cool List 2024” in the UK’s National Geographic Traveller or Booking.com’s “Top 10 sustainable travel destinations,” Tainan is the only Taiwanese city that makes such lists. Its long history, specialty cuisine and low-carbon energy conservation methods led to its international recognition.
Having grown up in Tainan’s Wutiao Harbor (五條港), I feel honored. I am truly glad for the sea of faces on Haian Road that have brought waves of profits and allowed for the ancient capital’s successful transformation.
However, the city has a host of problems: dirty and messy streets, vehicles parked randomly, drivers refusing to yield to pedestrians and people not complying with traffic rules. The thundering and smoke of firecrackers at temples, and the deafening sounds of gongs and drums from early morning to late at night has led to complaints from the old community’s residents.
So long as Taiwanese improve, these problems can easily be solved. The most important thing is for residents to possess good national literacy and respect others’ customs and culture. This way, whether in Taiwan or abroad, people can all become well-received travelers.
Li Cheng-ta
Taipei
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