By MOOK Scenic Spots Home Travel Life Network Editorial Department
 

On the 23rd, Yukihiro Nakayama, Mayor of Ishigaki City in Japan, visited the Su'ao Township Office. In addition to celebrating the 20th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between the two sides, a memorandum was also signed to promote close cooperation in production, sales, tourism, and leisure between the two regions. Of particular note, preliminary consensus has been reached on the proposed bilateral direct flights, with Su'ao to Ishigaki Island flights expected to launch as early as May 2016.

Ishigaki City is the southernmost city in Japan. Since forming a sister-city alliance with Su'ao Township in 1995, the two locations are just 250 kilometers apart—closer than the distance from Taipei to Kaohsiung—offering great potential for various cooperative developments. Recently, Yilan County Magistrate Lin Tsong-shyan also visited Okinawa Prefecture to discuss the possibility of establishing direct sea routes between Su'ao and Ishigaki. Both sides have shown strong interest, and once operational, tourists will be able to take a cruise directly from Su'ao to Ishigaki Island. After completing customs clearance procedures according to international standards (CIQS), they can then travel within Japan.