In line with the "Mountains and Seas Unlocked" policy, the Ministry of the Interior announced that, together with the Ministry of Education, it is actively planning and reviewing a series of supporting measures based on the principles of "full openness and effective management." Starting June 1, applications for Yushan hiking trails will be fully open. However, the single-entry portal of the Mountain Service Integration Platform, developed by the Construction and Planning Agency, may not go live until the end of June due to pending procedures.
The Ministry of the Interior issued a press release stating that it is working with the Ministry of Education to plan for the full opening of hiking trail applications, review and supervise local government hiking ordinances, adjust or lift mountainous restricted areas, and establish a mountain hiking service platform.
The Construction and Planning Agency of the Ministry of the Interior stated that national park administrations have cleared hiking routes within their parks, published trail conditions and hazardous sections, and fully opened previously closed hiking routes while simplifying the application process. However, access to ecological protection zones still requires permits in accordance with the National Park Law. For example, routes such as the Yushan North Col to Batongguan, the Tuge Great Scree Slope, and the Xinkang Transverse Range, which were closed due to natural disasters causing facility damage, can now be applied for directly via the park entry system starting June 1. The requirement for written documentation of hiking experience and capabilities has also been removed, replaced by online reminders and checkboxes. Related information can be found on the official websites of the respective park administrations.
Additionally, to provide hikers with safer and more convenient services, the Construction and Planning Agency of the Ministry of the Interior and the Forestry Bureau have jointly planned an overall improvement initiative for mountain huts. A medium-term plan has been submitted, with improvements to be carried out gradually over four years. Mountain huts will be categorized and graded, providing different levels of service based on their specific roles. Hiker feedback will be invited to guide annual reviews and adjustments to better meet safety and service needs. For communication improvements, national parks and the Forestry Bureau will continue to coordinate with the National Communications Commission to work with telecom operators on enhancing connectivity.
The Ministry of the Interior stated that six local governments, including Taichung City, have established their own hiking ordinances. These legislative efforts have shifted focus from accident prevention and management to ensuring that violators bear their own rescue costs, thereby avoiding the misuse of search and rescue resources. The Ministry’s National Fire Agency will continue to urge local governments to revise their ordinances accordingly, prioritizing rescue efficiency. Meanwhile, the Financial Supervisory Commission will be consulted regarding amendments to hiking insurance policies to decouple rescue costs from insurance payouts. As for mountainous restricted areas, due to the lack of progress in amending the National Security Act, the National Police Agency under the Ministry of the Interior, in collaboration with the Ministry of National Defense, will actively coordinate adjustments or lifting of restricted areas in accordance with the regulations on entering and exiting Taiwan’s mountainous restricted zones.
The Ministry of the Interior explained that current hiking-related applications in Taiwan include national park entry permits, Forestry Bureau mountain hut bookings, and mountainous restricted area entry applications. The Construction and Planning Agency of the Ministry of the Interior will establish a single-entry Mountain Service Integration Platform to simplify the application process, streamline cross-agency hiking route requests, and improve payment methods. The platform will also expand the functionality for hikers to independently log and upload trip plans, enabling timely rescue operations by emergency services. It will also link to the Ministry of Education and civilian hiking websites to provide comprehensive hiking information and safety education. The platform is expected to be developed and launched by the end of June.
(China Times)