Sports tourism is booming！ The results of the top ten quality travel programs have been announced.

▲ Sea kayaking. (Photo / courtesy ofShang Hai Travel Agencyofficial website)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

Want to ride a bike at a leisurely pace to see a different side of Taiwan, soar through the skies to experience Formosa from a new angle, or challenge yourself by exploring hidden gems through diverse activities like sea kayaking, snorkeling, and underwater walking to experience a different way of life? In 2015, the Ministry of Education’s Sports Administration continued the “Quality Sports Travel Programs” selection event,aiming to combine professionally planned tours by travel agencies with safe experiences led by expert coaches, enabling the public to discover vitality, health, and dreams through sports tourism.

To help the public realize that sports can make “travel even more exciting,” this year’s program selection was different from previous years—there were no restrictions on specific sports.It integrated elements such as sports and leisure, sightseeing, local culture, and ecological education, making the itinerary planning more diverse.

A total of 41 submissions from 18 travel agencies were received for this event. After evaluation by industry and academic experts appointed by the Sports Administration, 10 “Quality Sports Travel Programs” were selected. In addition to leisurely cycling tours, the selected programs also included a variety of elements such as kayaking, surfing, and snorkeling, allowing participants to experience the boundless charm of water-based activities. There were also programs like paragliding, offering a bird’s-eye view of Taiwan.

▲ Snorkeling in Penghu. (Photo / courtesy ofXing Yun Travel Agency official website)

The 10 selected “Quality Sports Travel Programs” will be available for purchase at the “2015 Taipei International Travel Fair” Sports Tourism Theme Pavilion, held at Hall 1 of the Taipei World Trade Center from November 6 to 9. Additionally, the Sports Administration will provide subsidies to the winning travel agencies: the first 500 tour groups departing before the end of September next year will receive a 50% subsidy on sports activity costs, up to NT$2,000 per person.

The list of winners for the “2015 Quality Sports Travel Programs” is as follows (arranged by stroke count of the program names):
1. 10-Day Cycling and Sightseeing Tour of Eastern Taiwan (Chuanliu Travel Agency)
2. I Wanna Be the Pirate King – Upgrade Edition (Shang Hai Travel Agency)
3. Hualien Qingshui Cliff Kayaking + Sanzhanxi River Trekking (2-Day) (Ezfly Travel Agency)
4. Southern Taiwan - Meinong Hakka: An Encounter with Indigenous Villages by Bike (Crazy Horse Travel Agency)
5. See Taiwan (Makelone Travel Agency)
6. Summer Firefly Night Run & Pomelo Blossom (Dongyang Travel Agency)
7. Amphibious Assault – Two-Way Sports Camp (Xing Yun Travel Agency)
8. Ode to Hualien – Cycling and Exploring Scenic Mountains and Waters (Hoship Travel Agency)
9. Runaway Lovers – Star Gazing in Penghu (Makelone Travel Agency)
10. Around the Golden Needle & Neck, Exclusive Youthful Swim in Hualien (Dongyang Travel Agency)