Liouciou Island tourism is so popular there are no boats left — 2 new ferries to join service

Reporter You T-Ru / Comprehensive Report

Tourism on Liouciou Island has soared in recent years, but the overwhelming influx of visitors has left the Donglu Line ferries, which shuttle between Donggang and Liouciou Island, struggling to keep up. Starting July 26, two new ferries will join the service, bringing the number of private ferries to seven. Together with the existing two public ones, this is expected to alleviate the long queues of tourists waiting for boats to Liouciou Island.


▲ The Taifu No. 1, soon to join the Donglu Line service. (Photo / Provided by Pingtung County Government)

Thanks to its booming natural attractions such as tidal flats and green sea turtles, Liouciou Island has drawn a surge of visitors, making boat tickets hard to come by. The Pingtung County Government is working to improve the situation by not only adding new boats but also coordinating with operators to set up an electronic ticketing and online advance booking system. This will not only reduce the need for tourists to wait in long, sun-exposed lines but also require operators to implement dedicated ticket windows and reserved seating for local residents, balancing the travel needs of both locals and tourists.

The Donglu Line ferries include the public-run Liouxing Company (Xintai and Jixiang Ruyi), the Donglu Line Joint Operation (Dongf, Dongx, Feima, Qunyi, and Guanghui), and the newly added Taifu No. 1 and No. 2, totaling nine ferries. Aside from Xintai, which is under repair, Taifu Ferry Company plans to add more boats by the end of the year. All fares are round-trip at NT$410. Currently, the Donglu Line Joint Operation uses a private pier, while Taifu Ferry Company and the public ferries share the same terminal. Each ferry can carry between 185 and 190 passengers per trip. With nine boats operating in rotation, waiting times for passengers are expected to be significantly reduced.

However, the excessive number of tourists also poses a threat to Liouciou Island’s environment and ecology. To address this, the Pingtung County Government is further promoting an electronic ticketing and online advance booking system. As for concerns among Liouciou residents that the online pre-sale system might compromise their rights, Lee Chi-Hung, director of the County Government’s Urban and Rural Development Bureau, stated that initially, only 30 online pre-sale tickets will be available per boat, and at least 30 seats per trip will be reserved for local residents. Adjustments will be made during holidays as needed. The new system will be implemented by Taifu Ferry starting July 26, while the Donglu Line Joint Operation plans to roll it out on September 1.