A government initiative to help boost Taiwan’s cultural and creative sector was launched yesterday, expanding the age at which citizens and eligible foreign residents would qualify for a voucher program that was introduced last year.
Starting yesterday, Taiwanese citizens and eligible foreign nationals, aged 16 to 22, could claim the digital vouchers, valued at NT$1,200, to spend on cultural activities, Minister of Culture Shih Che (史哲) said at a news conference in Taipei.
When the vouchers were first introduced last year to provide an economic stimulus to the cultural and creative sectors, they were offered to eligible residents aged 18 to 21, and about 80 percent in that category claimed the “culture points,” as the vouchers are called, he said.
Photo: CNA
In light of the enthusiastic response last year, the Cabinet decided to issue the vouchers annually and to expand the age eligibility to aged from 16 to 22, he said.
This year, the government has marked NT$2 billion (US$63.61 million) for the culture vouchers, which are expected to be claimed by about 1.6 million young people, he said.
To make the system more efficient, the government has teamed up with electronic payment service providers Pxpay Plus, Pluspay and icash Pay, which would allow use of the “culture points” as a form of payment, Shih said.
At the news conference, Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) encouraged young people to use the vouchers to explore Taiwan’s culture, which he said is the “soul” of the nation and helps shape national identity.
Culture Points could be used to pay for tickets or merchandise at museums, live music venues, art galleries, movie theaters and other cultural sites until Dec. 31, the culture ministry said.
The digital vouchers, which can only be downloaded on mobile phones via the culture ministry’s app, are available to Taiwanese nationals and foreign residents born between Jan. 1, 2002 and Dec. 31, 2008, the ministry said.
Eligible foreign residents are those who hold an Alien Resident Certificate or Alien Permanent Resident Certificate, including those from China, Hong Kong and Macau, the ministry said.
Meanwhile, eligible young people who have yet to claim last year’s “culture points” can still do so, which are eligible until June 30, the ministry said.
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