COVID-19 may be under control in Taiwan, but it is still threatening one of Taipei’s big annual events: an annual hot spring festival in the city’s Beitou area. Hot spring resorts have taken to offering coupons to keep the lack of international participation this year from deflating enthusiasm.
Hot spring bathing culture is one of those cultural threads that binds Taiwan and Japan together. And every year, it’s the attendance of Japanese hot spring resorts and inns that gets Taipei crowds excited for the Taipei Hot Spring Season carnival, a chance to enjoy Japanese processions and other things Japanese.
Except this year, COVID-19 is keeping the Japanese visitors at home. When the five-day event begins on Thursday, Taipei’s local hot springs will be on their own.
Some have announced coupons and vouchers in an effort to keep interest in the event up. After all, anything less than a success here might impact business down the road during peak hot spring season.