Mystery Shoppers Take Action to Review Homestays!“Friendly Homestays” Adds 75 New Listings, Removes 25

▲ The “Dayu Hiyori” homestay in Jiaoxi offers hot spring baths. (Photo / Screenshot from Dayu Hiyori Facebook)

Intern Reporter Liu Ni / Taipei Report

As tourism in Taiwan continues to grow in popularity, ensuring the quality of homestays—embodying the hospitality spirit of Taiwanese people—is more important than ever. The Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications recently selected“Friendly Homestays”that are beloved by both domestic and international travelers, blending the personal touch of hosts with regional characteristics, including the highly booked “Dayu Hiyori” in Jiaoxi and the Korean-owned “Window to the Sea” in Hualien, totaling 75 listings.

▲ The artistic “Ming Shan House” (left) (Photo / Screenshot from Ming Shan House official website) and the indigenous-style “Crossing the Rainbow Bridge” (right). (Photo / Screenshot from Crossing the Rainbow Bridge official website)

The annual “Friendly Homestays” list is compiled by the Tourism Bureau from legally registered homestays across Taiwan, which must meet the five core values of friendliness: “Warmth, Friendliness, Cleanliness, Hygiene, and Safety,” as well as 19 evaluation criteria including tidiness, privacy, security, and transparent information. There are currently 711 homestays across Taiwan that have earned the Friendly Homestay certification. This year’s 75 newly qualified homestays include “Dayu Hiyori” in Jiaoxi, a hot spring and gourmet inn with an annual occupancy rate over 90% and hard-to-book rooms; “Window to the Sea” in Hualien, operated by a Korean who fell in love with the area, offering ocean views right from the door; “Crossing the Rainbow Bridge,” reflecting the spirit of the Taroko indigenous people; and “Ming Shan House,” a green oasis in Daxi Township, Kaohsiung, co-created by artists from Taiwan and Shanghai.

▲ The “Dayu Hiyori” homestay in Jiaoxi also offers delicious food. (Photo / Screenshot from Dayu Hiyori Facebook)

In addition to adding new Friendly Homestays that met the standards, the Tourism Bureau also sent mystery shoppers to inspect 107 existing listings, revoking the certification of 25 homestays due to issues with facilities or services.

To help both domestic and international travelers more easily choose high-quality homestays, the Tourism Bureau has placed advertisements for Friendly Homestays at service centers in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. The full list of Friendly Homestays can be found on the Taiwan Accommodation Network (http://taiwanstay.net.tw).

▲ The list of “Friendly Homestays” can be viewed on the Taiwan Accommodation Network. (Photo / Screenshot from Taiwan Accommodation Network)