Butterfly Lovers Travel Agency Shuts Down Amid Driver Fatigue and Low-Cost Tour Issues Coming to Light

By MOOK Scenic Spots Family, compiled and reported

In addition, regarding the case of the Yulitong Transport Company coach involved in this incident, which resulted in 33 fatalities, an investigation confirmed significant negligence. The Ministry of Transportation will impose the maximum penalty under Article 77, Paragraph 1 of the Highway Act, revoking its road transport business license and suspending all operating vehicle licenses, due to failure to properly manage its vehicles, drivers, and staff (including driving and rest time regulations) as required by the Motor Transport Industry Management Regulations. However, Yulitong Transport has protested its innocence, stating that the coach belonged to Butterfly Lovers Travel Agency and that many details remain to be clarified, also highlighting the complex management issues behind Taiwan’s tourism and coach operators.

The issue of driver fatigue, which has garnered the most attention, saw the Travel Agents Association spokesperson Lee Chih-yueh initially state that driver Mr. Kang had days off and rest periods. This was denied by Mr. Kang’s family, who presented his work schedule showing he had worked for 16 consecutive days, with only one day off the day before New Year’s Eve. On February 10, although scheduled to rest, he was asked by the company to simply inspect the vehicle, meaning he did not get proper rest.

Taiwan faces an aging driver population for large coaches and buses, along with issues of overwork. Even when passengers are sightseeing, drivers may not get adequate breaks. Working conditions and the environment also impact travel quality. In recent years, Japan has continuously improved legislation and management of bus safety following several major coach accidents, also focusing on driver conditions before departure. Research has found that sleep-deprived driving is as dangerous as drunk driving, or even more so. The Tourism Bureau has also called on tourists to carefully select tours and travel agencies, especially concerning the quality of Taiwan’s low-cost one-day tours. Whether future regulations can enforce unified management standards for coaches, possibly through platforms, will require legislative planning by relevant authorities, in hopes of transforming and improving the situation and issues within Taiwan’s travel industry and coach operations.