In-depth Indigenous tribe tours gain popularity: DIY crafts & tribal cuisine available for free tasting at Taipei Main Station

▲ An Atayal tribe booth introduces distinctive handicrafts. (Photo / Reporter Lai Wen-hsuan, same as below)

Reporter Lai Wen-hsuan / Taipei

Recently, the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has been actively promoting Indigenous tribal tourism. After surveying the willingness of local Indigenous communities to open up for in-depth tours, the bureau has launched 32 tribal tour routes. The bureau willhold the “2015 Taiwan Indigenous Tribal Tourism Achievement Exhibition” from the 26th to the 28th at the Multi-function Exhibition Area of Taipei Main Station, inviting tribes to set up booths. The event will feature displays of Indigenous handicrafts, DIY activities, tastings of tribal cuisine, and occasional tribal performances— a rich and diverse program indeed！

▲ The Taiwan Indigenous Tribal Tourism Achievement Exhibition will be held at Taipei Main Station from the 26th to the 28th.

Indigenous culture is one of Taiwan’s most unique cultural assets. In recent years, the national scenic area administration offices under the Tourism Bureau located in Indigenous regions have been committed to interacting with tribes to build partnerships and collaborating with them to promote “small-scale, refined, and in-depth ecotourism — Indigenous tribal tourism.”

The “2015 Taiwan Indigenous Tribal Tourism Achievement Exhibition” will take place from the 26th to the 28th at the Multi-function Exhibition Area of Taipei Main Station. It combines the efforts and achievements of the Council of Indigenous Peoples, the Ministry of Culture, the Forestry Bureau, and six national scenic area administration offices under the Tourism Bureau — including the East Coast, Huatung Valley, Sun Moon Lake, Sanhsia, Alishan, and Maolin — in promoting tribal tourism. The event will invite various tribes to set up booths introducing their local tribal culture tourism. In addition to selling distinctive tribal handicrafts, there will also be experience activities such as DIY workshops and tastings of tribal cuisine. There will also be occasional performances by Indigenous groups. Moreover,travel agencies will also have booths at the event, making it convenient for interested members of the public to inquire and sign up directly.

▲ Members of the public interested in tribal tourism can visit the booths to find out more about in-depth tribal experiences.

Through in-depth tribal tourism, visitors can truly experience tribal life and gain a deeper understanding of Indigenous culture— for example, the bamboo raft experience offered by the Donghe tribe under the East Coast Administration Office; the Huatung Valley Administration Office using short films to integrate tribal elements and enhance international marketing highlights for tribes; the Sun Moon Lake Administration Office promoting the Taiwan Sightseeing Bus featuring a cultural tour of the Bunun and Thao Indigenous peoples; the Sanhsia Administration Office organizing a tea banquet featuring dance performances of the Saisiyat and Atayal tribes in Nanzhuang, integrating local natural scenery and Indigenous culture through Taiwan Good To Go; the Alishan Administration Office launching distinctive experience itineraries in conjunction with tribal festivals; and the Maolin Administration Office designing exclusive menus for tribes by incorporating local ingredients (such as red quinoa, millet, taro, tree beans, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes) — all of which represent highly distinctive forms of tribal tourism.

▲ Tribal handicrafts are especially popular among foreign tourists.

For the mainland China tourism market, the Tourism Bureau has established the “Guidelines for Travel Agencies Receiving Mainland Chinese Tour Groups Visiting Indigenous Tribal Areas for In-depth Tourism,”after taking stock of existing in-depth Indigenous tourism routes and surveying tribal operators willing to host mainland tour groups. Originally, 15 routes were identified, but through inventory and on-site inspections, this number has gradually increased to 32.

According to statistics, since the launch of this initiative on October 1, 2014, until November 30, 2015, the number of visitors entering Taiwan under this program has exceeded 157,000. Furthermore, the number of applicants for Taiwan visits has been increasing month by month. Compared to the period from March to May 2015, visitor numbers from June to September saw a growth rate of 522% — nearly 6.2 times higher. In October, there were 1,390 arrivals, and in November, 2,230 arrivals, showing stable development.

▲ The press conference featured displays of tribal handicrafts and cuisine.

The tribal tour routes include tribes in Taoyuan, Nantou, Kaohsiung, Hualien, Taitung, Yilan, and Pingtung. The output value is estimated to exceed NT$30 million, which is highly beneficial for promoting tribal tourism and enhancing regular economic activity within tribes.

▲ In-depth tribal cultural tourism is booming. (Video / Reporter Lai Wen-hsuan)

2015 Taiwan Indigenous Tribal Tourism Achievement Exhibition

Venue: Multi-function Exhibition Area, Taipei Main Station
Date: December 26–28
Activities: Booths by national scenic area tribes, DIY handicrafts, tribal food tastings, travel agency booths, occasional tribal performances