Travel
bobo Little Genius / Enjoy the Joy of Sports
After the Mid-Autumn Festival, autumn officially arrives. In the crisp and refreshing autumn weather, it’s perfect for taking kids out for a walk. For family travel itineraries, many parents find them daunting, but actually, not every outing has to involve long journeys. There are plenty of small, worthwhile attractions near residential areas or within the city.
Taipei International Travel Fair / Valuing the Taiwan Market: TAT Governor Says Promoting Quality Travel
Thailand’s tourism industry is thriving, making it one of the top choices for Taiwanese travelers. With the Taipei International Travel Fair currently underway, Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), personally came to Taiwan to participate and promote, demonstrating the importance placed on Taiwan’s tourism market.
Taipei International Travel Fair / Most Astonishing Mascot: A Live Squid Roams the Venue
The ITF Taipei International Travel Fair kicked off on the 1st and 2nd floors of Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 and in Hall 3, with each hall pulling out all the stops to attract crowds by deploying mascots as crowd-pulling gimmicks aimed at boosting visitor spending. Yet among the many “cute” mascots, the Japan Hokkaido booth unexpectedly unleashed a live squid roaming the fairgrounds—a human-sized squid strolling down the main aisle of the travel fair. Many attendees couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, “This kind of mascot design is truly very rare.”
Taipei International Travel Fair / Hottest Overseas Itineraries: Weddings, Skiing, and Cruises
The ITF Taipei International Travel Fair kicked off on the 1st and 2nd floors of Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 and in Hall 3, marking the largest-scale edition of the fair to date. On its opening day, attendance surpassed last year’s figures by nearly 10,000 visitors. The most inquired-about section was the Japan Pavilion, where travel agencies estimated initial sales for the entire pavilion reached around NT$42 million on the first day. The top three most popular travel options were overseas weddings, skiing, and cruises, with peak travel times being the Lunar New Year and New Year’s holiday periods.
New Taipei City’s “City of Sky Lanterns” Signs Tourism Agreement with Japan’s “Hometown of Ninjas”
New Taipei City Advances Its International Tourism Push Again! The Tourism and Travel Bureau announced that starting today, New Taipei’s “City of Sky Lanterns” and Japan’s “Hometown of Ninjas” will begin exchange and cooperation. By signing a tourism agreement, the two sides aim to promote bilateral tourism. In the initial phase, tourism information will be made available on official tourism websites, allowing Taiwanese people to learn more about travel information in Mie Prefecture, including details about the famous Ise Grand Shrine with its 1,300-year history, Japan’s highest number of “ama” (female divers), and delicious Matsusaka beef.
Travel with the “Taste Ambassadors” to experience rural cuisine and culture
Travel with the Taste Ambassadors！The newly appointed civilian “Taste Ambassadors” Tseng Ching-yin and Chang Kai-chieh will set off today to journey through 10 counties and cities, visiting over 40 leisure farms, leading the public to discover the most authentic rural delicacies and experience rural culture, including picking taro in Gongguan, Miaoli, catching grey mullet in Hukou, Yunlin, and indulging in dishes made with mullet roe. The public can learn more about local cuisine and interact closely with the ambassadors.
Giant cupcakes join the celebration as the Sydney Opera House turns 40
The Sydney Opera House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Australia’s most iconic landmarks, is celebrating its 40th birthday. Organizers marked the occasion with Aboriginal dance performances, a massive cupcake, and rock singer Jimmy Barnes leading the Navy Band in a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”
Bamboo Fort Princess Crowned: Dance Instructor Chung Chiao-Jou Wins the Title
After fierce competition, the winner of the Hsinchu City Bamboo Fort Princess pageant has been announced. Chung Chiao-Jou, a 23-year-old dance instructor from Miaoli, stood out among 12 contestants to claim the crown. In addition to winning the NT$120,000 first-place prize, she has also been appointed as the Tourism Ambassador for Hsinchu City. Over the next year, she will be dedicated to promoting and endorsing the food and scenic attractions of the "Windy City."
Oops！Osaka’s yellow rubber duck deflated and lost its bounce after scraping its head under a bridge during a river parade—now it looks more like a flattened egg.
Yellow rubber ducks around the world have had very different experiences. In Kaohsiung, despite a typhoon, the duck only had to be deflated once to avoid the storm. Last Saturday (the 19th), Osaka’s duck encountered trouble during a river event when unexpected water levels caused its head to scrape the underside of a bridge while passing through, damaging the head. This led to instability as strong winds entered the duck’s body, forcing an emergency trip for repairs.
Taipei International Travel Fair / 40% off High-Speed Rail tickets, only NT$2,200 from Taipei to Tainan
The ITF Taipei International Travel Fair is being held on the 1st and 2nd floors of Hall 1 and in Hall 3 at Taipei World Trade Center. To coincide with the event, from now until October 31, Taiwan Tourist Shuttle’s Routes 88 (Anping) and 99 (Taijiang), in partnership with Taiwan High Speed Rail, have launched the exclusive “Travel Fair Limited Offer” – the super-value Tainan 8899 High-Speed Rail Transport Pass. It offers a 40% discount on round-trip high-speed rail tickets, making a DIY trip from Taipei to Tainan as low as NT$2,200.
Taipei International Travel Fair / Cross-Strait Travel Fair – High Interest Among Taiwanese Public
The ITF Taipei International Travel Fair is being held on the 1st and 2nd floors of Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1 and in Hall 3, while the 8th Cross-Strait Taipei Travel Fair is also drawing increasing public attention. Through this platform that gathers exhibitors from various mainland provinces, Taiwanese visitors can not only obtain the most free materials but also get first-hand information in real time and communicate directly with mainland representatives. This year, the proportion of joint marketing efforts between mainland exhibition booths and Taiwanese businesses has also significantly increased, with exciting activities drawing crowds of attendees.
Weekly Salary of NT$60,000 in Taiwan: Northern Mariana Islands Recruits Tourism Ambassadors
Eyeing the visa-free convenience for traveling to the U.S., after a seven-year hiatus, the tourism board of the U.S.-administered Northern Mariana Islands is once again promoting travel to the islands in Taiwan. In addition to establishing a representative office in Taiwan, its Chinese-language website will also go live on October 22. The board is also recruiting one weekly tourism ambassador in Taiwan, offering a weekly salary of NT$60,000. The selected candidate will get the opportunity to preview the destination in advance, with all transportation, accommodation, and meal expenses totaling around NT$150,000 fully covered.
Taiwan Bicycle Festival to Kick Off – "New Concept Around Taiwan" to Explore the Island’s Four Extremes
In the cool autumn weather, cycling is the most comfortable recreational activity, and passionate cyclists even view riding around the island as a challenge and a dream. This cycling craze has been growing rapidly in Taiwan. The 2013 Taiwan Bicycle Festival will take place from November 9 to 17. Before the event kicks off, the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has planned warm-up activities, including the "Bicycle Extreme Points Tour Around Taiwan" and the "Celebrity-Led Passionate Riders Group."
Relay of "Pond Little Ducks" in Xinyi, Taoyuan; Traffic and Vehicle Controls Implemented in Surrounding Areas
The yellow duck in Kaohsiung has made a glorious exit. This Saturday (26th), Taoyuan’s "Pond Little Ducks" will lead a creative relay by master artists from home and abroad, integrating the local scenery of Xinyi to showcase authentic "Taoyuan Land Art." It is estimated that large crowds will flock to Xinyi Township this weekend. To ensure visitors have a smooth land art experience, the Taoyuan County Government will implement traffic controls primarily around three ponds.
The alleyway's "Waffo Gato" — a whimsical little space
Waffo Gato is a quaint and charming coffee, lunch, and tea restaurant. Of course, it doesn’t just serve great drinks—it also has delicious food, making it perfect for a relaxing afternoon get-together with friends or family. This playful and childlike Waffo Gato is tucked away in an alley on Section 1 of Neihu Road. As someone with a strong attachment to Neihu, how could I not follow the latest café trends around here, right!?
The World’s Coolest Job: Marianas Internship Pays NT$60,000 a Week
The legendary “world’s coolest job” is back again — the Marianas Islands, an archipelago boasting scenery more beautiful than the Maldives and casino facilities as glamorous as those in Las Vegas, is now recruiting in Taiwan. Starting today, the Marianas office is hiring on its official website. Anyone aged 18 or above with Republic of China nationality can apply for the “Marianas Tourism Bureau – One-Week Intern” position.
Neglecting Taiwan? One of the top 10 travel destinations for Taiwanese – yet Singapore didn’t show up at the travel fair
The ITF Taipei International Travel Fair concluded on October 21, attracting a record-breaking 310,000 visitors over four days, with various tourism bureaus pulling out all the stops to boost sales. However, some sharp-eyed attendees noticed that Singapore, one of the “top 10 travel destinations for Taiwanese,” did not set up a booth at the event. Some wondered, “Has the Singapore Tourism Board stopped prioritizing the Taiwanese market?”
Taiwan High-Speed Rail Exclusive Discount Up to 32% Off via "Orange Travel Voucher" – Explore Taiwan with HowToTrip
Everything’s going up except our salaries. Starting August 8th, Taiwan High-Speed Rail raised its fares despite public opposition. To help travelers save money and boost tourism, the Tourism Bureau of Taiwan collaborated with Taiwan High-Speed Rail to launch the “HowToTrip – Orange Travel Voucher.” Not only are fares not increased, but you also get a 25% discount — that’s 32% off compared to buying high-speed rail tickets separately. The first 500 voucher sets even come with a “HowToTrip Membership Card” loaded with NT$100, allowing everyone to explore Taiwan for less.
A Light of Taiwan: Taitung Hot Air Balloons Invited to Perform in Vietnam in November
Truly a light of Taiwan！The Taitung hot air balloon team has been invited to take flight in Vietnam. In November, Vietnam will host the 28th Asian Advertising Conference, which has specially invited the Taitung County Government’s hot air balloon team to participate. Taitung County Magistrate Huang Jian-ting will lead two hot air balloons and their team to Vietnam for the exhibition, using this opportunity to promote the 2014 Taiwan International Hot Air Balloon Festival, as well as to provide Taiwan with the best possible international exposure ahead of hosting the next Asian Advertising Conference.
Custom stamps and limited-edition date stamps — The Peachland Land Art Festival sets up a "Little Duck Post Office"
Even Chunghwa Post is going duck-crazy！ In tandem with the Land Art Festival, the Taoyuan Post Office will set up a post office next to Houhu Pond, where the yellow rubber duck is displayed, starting from the 26th. Moreover, during the exhibition period, a "Little Duck Temporary Post Office" will be available every Saturday. Not only will personalized stamps be offered for visitors, but also "one-day-only date stamps and limited-edition envelopes" themed around the three international art installations on display — adding a special postal touch to the Land Art Festival.