A tour company that led visitors onto railroad tracks in Alishan (阿里山) could be fined if deemed responsible for an injury sustained by a tourist this weekend, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shi-kai (陳世凱) said today.
During an arranged tour of Alishan on Saturday, guides led visitors to walk on the forest railway tracks, resulting in one being struck by a train and injured.
The Tourism Administration is to launch an investigation and levy a fine of up to NT$50,000 if the company is deemed responsible, Chen added.
Photo courtesy of the Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office via CNA
The relevant regulations governing tourism groups require them to pay attention to travelers’ safety, and if the organizer fails to do so, can be charged NT$50,000, Chen said.
The matter is currently under investigation and there would be an official response in the next two or three days, he added.
Article 37 of the Regulations Governing Travel Agencies (旅行業管理規則) says that a travel agency and its assigned service personnel accompanying a tour group “shall ensure the safety of tourists on the tour” or face fines.
The Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office yesterday in a news release said that a person was injured when participating in the Dream International Travel Agency group activity, and that the agency has a history of illegally bringing groups to walk on the railway tracks.
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