With a significant drop in the number of mainland Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan, Taichung City’s Economic Development Bureau has introduced six industrial experience bus tours starting October 6 to tap into the domestic travel market. These tours cover local wood and lacquer artisans, tourist factories, industry story museums, well-known souvenir shops, and renowned cake and pastry stores. For just NT$300, participants can explore Taichung’s culture that blends tradition and innovation. Each tour includes in-depth guided visits, DIY experiences, specialty meals, and transportation. Online registration opens at noon on the 27th (tomorrow).
On the 26th, the Taichung City Government’s Economic Development Bureau held the launch event for the “Explore Local, Experience Taichung” industrial experience bus tours. Zhang Fengyuan, Director of the Economic Development Bureau, pointed out that in response to the impact of mainland China’s restrictions on independent travel on the tourism industry, the city government is actively promoting an “experience economy.” On one hand, this supports industrial transformation and development toward more refined tour packages; on the other, it integrates industries with tourism to attract visitors from around the region to spend in Taichung and drive more business opportunities.
Centered around Taichung’s distinctive industries, the city government has collaborated with wood and lacquer artisans, tourist factories, industry story museums, souvenir businesses, and famous cake and pastry shops to carefully design six creative and unique themed tours starting October 6.
The Economic Development Bureau noted that the “Childlike Wonder, Family Fun” tour focuses on parent-child activities, the “Exquisite Craftsmanship, Artisan Spirit” tour centers on wood and lacquer art, the “Tradition Renewed, Artisans’ Dedication” tour offers hands-on DIY experiences with artisans, the “Lifestyle Creativity, Art in Daily Life” tour promotes newly opened optical tourist factories and docks, the “Industrial Academy, City Exploration” tour visits Taiwan’s first museum producing music box movements, and the “Harvest of Industry, Gifts of the Region” tour allows participants to sample local gift brands and the souvenir industry.