Tourists just want to breathe in phytoncides – Alishan considers going completely smoke-free

▲ Alishan is a must-visit attraction for many tourists coming to Taiwan. (File photo / Eastern News)

Life Center / Comprehensive Report

Although Alishan Forest Recreation Area is an outdoor space, smokers visiting in the future may no longer be able to light up freely in the mountains, as the Chiayi Forest District Office has proposed to the Health Bureau that Alishan be designated as a completely smoke-free area.

Alishan is a must-visit spot for many tourists coming to Taiwan, but some visitors have been smoking freely on the mountain, affecting the experience of the majority who simply want to enjoy the phytoncides. In response, the Chiayi Forest District Office previously suggested to the Health Bureau that Alishan be declared a smoke-free zone, but the bureau did not act hastily due to enforcement challenges.

However, recently the Department of Health confirmed that Alishan meets the criteria for an outdoor smoke-free area, and it is expected that a designated smoking zone will be planned within the next two months to enforce the smoke-free policy. In addition, on February 22 of last month, the Chiayi Forest District Office also declared the Guiyi Forest Life Village in Chiayi City a completely smoke-free area.

The Chiayi Forest District Office stated that the Guiyi Forest Life Village is a park that combines forestry culture and historic architectural features. It was originally the dormitory area of the Chiayi Forest Farm under the Forestry Bureau of the Governor-General’s Office during the Japanese colonial period, and is also Taiwan’s earliest forestry village.

The Forest District Office carried out restoration work on 28 historic buildings here at the end of 2009, gradually completing the renovations. At the end of last year, it held a “Creative Forest Life Exhibition” in seven completed wooden structures, attracting over 130,000 visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday. The office said it hopes everyone will comply with the smoke-free policy to help maintain air quality and protect visitors’ health.