Written/Compiled and reported by Li Xinyi
To promote local tourism development and attract domestic and international travelers to explore Taiwan’s beautiful scenery, the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications specially commissioned a publishing company to hold the “Taiwan Top Ten Tourism Towns” selection. After the initial screening by the committee, 17 towns have advanced to the next round of the final selection. Starting today, the public can cast their votes for their favorite towns, and the shortlisted tourism towns have also launched various vote-gathering campaigns.
Taipei City’s Beitou Charming Town and Xinyi Fashion City have both been shortlisted among the top ten tourism towns. (Photo provided by Taipei City Government Department of Information and Tourism)
The “Taiwan Top Ten Tourism Towns” must possess one of ten tourism elements: “folk religion,” “local culture,” “indigenous tribes,” “hot springs,” “innovation,” “contemporary culture,” “hiking,” “stargazing,” “ecotourism,” and “cycling.” The first phase of written review has ended. To allow the public to participate and cheer for their favorite towns, the final selection will include a public voting activity (accounting for 20% of the total score). Voting can be done online, via mobile app, and by postcard. Online voting runs from January 21 to March 9, mobile app voting from February 20 to March 9, and postcard voting from now until March 7. Each person can vote once per day, with up to six votes per day. Voters may have a chance to win a Nikon mirrorless camera. The results of the “Taiwan Top Ten Tourism Towns” preliminary selection and details on how the public can participate in the final selection will be officially announced tomorrow (the 21st) on the official campaign website.
Taiwanese snacks are famous, and this time Anping has been selected for its “local culture” element. Other towns sharing the same characteristic include Lukang in Changhua, Meinong in Kaohsiung, Ruifang in New Taipei City, Sanyi in Miaoli, Daxi in Taoyuan, Ruisui in Hualien, Kincheng in Kinmen, Beigan in Matsu, and Magong in Penghu. (Photo provided by Tainan City Government Department of Tourism)
The selected towns include: Taipei City’s Beitou Charming Town, Taipei City’s Xinyi Fashion City, New Taipei City’s Ruifang District – Shueijinjiu Area Mining Secrets, Miaoli’s Sanyi Woodcarving Art Town, Taichung’s Dajia District – Mazu Culture, Taoyuan’s Daxi President Town, Tainan’s Anping – The origin of Taiwan’s name is Anping, Kaohsiung’s Meinong District – Meinong, where beauty and sentiment blend, Pingtung County’s Liuqiu Township, Taitung’s Luye – the hometown of hot air balloons, Changhua’s Lukang Town – crafts, food, and historic sites, Nantou County’s Jiji Town – train impressions 'Step into Jiji,' Hualien’s Ruisui Township, Yilan’s Jiaoxi Hot Spring Wellness and Lifestyle Town, Matsu’s Beigan – the hometown of war history, Penghu County’s Magong Folklore Town, and Kinmen County’s Kincheng – the quaint old town of Houpu.
Campaign website: tenbigtowns.tw