Is the crowds in Ximending really due to its international flair and unique charm? Urban planner refutes: there's another reason

Due to factors such as the decline in mainland Chinese tourists and Taiwanese people’s enthusiasm for traveling abroad, Taiwan’s tourism market has undergone qualitative changes, leading to a sharp drop in visitor numbers at famous scenic spots across the island. However, Ximending was the only one that saw a slight increase in tourist visits last year. The official explanation attributes this to the Ximending commercial district being “sufficiently international” and “unique.” Recently, however, an urban planner wrote an article explaining that the key to the growth lies elsewhere.

Urban planner Qiu Bingyu recently published an article on “CommonWealth Magazine’s Independent Opinion,” where he began by pointing out that Ximending is a consumer-oriented commercial district and cannot really be compared with natural attractions like Kenting or Taroko Gorge. He also mentioned that although Taipei has multiple commercial districts, Ximending’s greatest tourism advantage in maintaining its popularity lies in its “location” and the “pedestrian zone economics.”

Ximending is Taiwan’s first pedestrian zone, which attracts large crowds every holiday. He stated that Ximending’s success is absolutely not solely due to advantages like being “sufficiently international” or “unique,” as such descriptions are too vague. He analyzed that besides being located in central Taipei, the establishment of the pedestrian zone is also a key factor. Traffic control not only results in cleaner air but also means visitors don’t have to worry about vehicles while shopping, thereby increasing their willingness to visit.

In addition, he cited examples of commercial streets in countries such as Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Denmark to illustrate the global trend of revitalizing streets through pedestrian zones, encouraging both domestic and international visitors to linger rather than just pass through, thus driving more foot traffic and consumer activity in the area.