As Taiwan's daily local case count continues to climb, many people are cutting down on their outdoor excursions. Canceling travel plans is more than just a disappointment to tourists; it's taking a toll on the hospitality industry.
Taiwan's east coast is usually busy with tourists ready for a relaxing retreat, but apprehension about the recent COVID-19 outbreak means that fewer people are going on vacation.
One hostel owner says that since case numbers started to rise, an increasing number of guests have been calling to cancel their bookings. She says the guests are worried about going to popular tourist spots, where there's a higher risk of catching the virus.
Reports show that hotels in Hualien have seen 10% of their bookings canceled, and that number rises to 20% in Taitung. One hotel manager in Hualien says that his hotel has lost around NT$2,500,000 (US$86,000) worth of business due to booking cancellations.
Hotels and restaurants are trying to adapt to the situation by providing more options for food takeout. Some hotel owners are still willing to give customers a full refund when they cancel their bookings. But they're encouraging tourists to simply postpone their trip instead.
The owners hope that Taiwan's COVID-19 surge will subside in the near future, and that their hotels can get back to business in time for the peak summer season.