President Tsai Ing-wen has instructed the Tourism Bureau to implement measures to boost tourism amid a coronavirus outbreak that has led to many cancellations.
Tsai was speaking Friday at a Tourism Bureau event honoring businesses in the tourism sector for their hard work in the past year.
Tsai said that in recent years, Taiwan has not only seen the number of overseas visitors reach record highs, but has also managed to attract tourists from a record number of countries.
However, Tsai noted the impact of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak on tourism. She said that during the outbreak, travel agencies have been working to bring Taiwanese nationals home safely. She said that the Tourism Bureau must help the tourism industry by putting measures to boost tourism into place soon.
The president said that even though there are confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in Taiwan, the patients’ conditions are under control. Tsai praised Taiwan’s health and medical systems as well as the government’s efficiency in handling the outbreak. She said Taiwan’s response demonstrates that Taiwan is a safe place to travel.
In related news, Transportation Minister Lin Chia-lung says there is a subsidy plan for businesses that suffered losses over the Lunar New Year holiday, when the outbreak led to many tour cancellations.
In addition, the Mainland Affairs Council announced Friday that the operation of the ‘mini three links’ between China and outlying Taiwanese islands will be temporarily suspended starting Monday.