Chiayi Opens Unique Homestays, Inviting Travelers to Experience the Beauty of Culture, Ecology, and Countryside

▲ (Photo / Substitute illustrative photo / (Photo / Screenshot fromLai Kun-yang’s Home Wooden Cabin HomestayFacebook page)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The Chiayi County Government recently issued the “Chiayi County Unique Homestay Review Guidelines.” Once approved,homestays with fewer than 15 roomscan legally operate as unique homestays.

The Chiayi County Government stated that the new policy primarily encourages homestays located on indigenous reservations, leisure farms with operating permits issued by agricultural authorities, leisure agriculture areas designated by agricultural authorities, tourist areas, remote area legal homestays, and newly established homestays.

Unique homestays should possess two or more of the following characteristics:
(1)Architectural Features:Unique buildings or interior decorations and furnishings that are traditional, representative, or of significant meaning.
(2)
Culinary Features:Local or traditional specialty foods, or self-created unique snacks. (3)
Industrial and Cultural Features:Possessing local industry, traditional culture, or customs, offering travelers an educational, intellectual journey, or opportunities for academic research. (4)
Ecological Landscape Features:
Featuring natural ecological landscapes, rural countryside, or integrating surrounding environmental resources, helping travelers engage in eco-tourism and academic research. (5)Management Features:
Offering distinctive management styles, artistic flair, creative elements, providing travelers with nearby tourist attraction information and educational services, or holding relevant training and certification.
(Five)Management Features: Possess unique business styles, artistic characteristics, or creative elements, and provide
travelers with information and educational services about nearby tourist attractions or offer related training and certification programs.
(6)Others.

In addition, in response to the upcoming opening of the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum by the end of this year (2015), the Bureau of Cultural Affairs has specially organized informational sessions on homestay registrationin Taibao City and Puzi Cityto encourage residents to apply for homestay licenses using spare space in their own residences to provide accommodation for travelers. The goal is to have more partners in mountainous, coastal, and plains areas join the homestay business in the future, collectively promoting micro-tourism through homestays.