No Car? No Problem – Taiwan’s Top 10 Happy & Fun Travel Itineraries Voting is About to Begin

Reporter Zhu t?幔?ū北ǖ技/p>

Energy conservation and environmental protection have become a trend, so don’t forget to drive less and use public transportation more even when you travel. To promote travel via public transport, the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced on the 25th that this year it will select the “Taiwan Top 10 Happy & Fun Travel Itineraries.” Local governments will initially shortlist 13 one-day and two-day tour routes each, which will then be put up for public vote. In May, online voting will open for the public to compete and choose their favorites, encouraging love for public transportation through low-carbon travel itineraries.

The Tourism Bureau stated that during the preliminary selection phase, all counties and cities were invited to submit written proposals for review, planning one-day or two-day itineraries. A judging panel evaluated them based on five selection criteria. These criteria are divided into five major categories: “Can’t Wait to Play,” “Warm and Friendly,” “Truly Happy,” “Thoughtfully Planned,” and “Smooth Travel.” Eventually, 13 itineraries in each category were shortlisted, and then netizens will boost their popularity. By leveraging the convenience and service of low-carbon itineraries, the public will be encouraged to embrace public transport, while also showcasing Taiwan’s warm hospitality to attract more international tourists.

▲ If you visit Matsu, you’ll definitely want to see the Matsu Blue Tears with your own eyes. (Photo / Provided by Gu Zhejia, Matsu National Scenic Area Administration)

One-day tour itineraries are mainly concentrated in western Taiwan, including Keelung’s “Blue Sea and Marvelous Rocks Harbor Adventure,” Taipei City Government’s “Unforgettable Classic Taipei Pilgrimage,” New Taipei City’s “Sanxia Cultural and Creative Hands-On Day Tour,” Chiayi County’s “Xingang Art Light Travel,” and Pingtung County’s “A Date with Liuqiu – Happiness and Romance,” all highlighting local characteristics. Two-day tours expand to include Yilan, Hualien, Taitung, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu regions. The north includes only Taipei City and Taoyuan County, the central region covers Taichung City and Nantou County, while the south is represented by Tainan City, Kaohsiung City, and Pingtung County.

The Tourism Bureau stated that the evaluation criteria for the “Taiwan Top 10 Happy & Fun Travel Itineraries” are divided into five major categories: “Can’t Wait to Play” for marketing appeal and attractiveness, “Warm and Friendly” for promoting local creativity, “Truly Happy” for friendly services, “Thoughtfully Planned” for policy planning and support, and “Smooth Travel” for low-carbon transport and diversity — the most crucial factor. In addition to scoring by professional judges through on-site inspections, public voting will be invited starting May 3rd. Each county and city will also place creatively designed QR codes at tourist service centers, visitor centers, and major attractions. The final results are expected to be announced by the end of July.