Taiwan Today

The 2009 Deaflympics is expected to bring in NT$800 million (US$ 24.3 million) in economic benefits, said Tuo Chung-hwa, commissioner of the Taipei City Government Department of Information and Tourism. Deputy Mayor of Taipei Wu Ching-ki added that the 2009 Deaflympics is the largest in scale in recent years. Five thousand two hundred seventy two athletes, trainers, coaches and judges from 101 countries are participating in this year’s games, double the number of that of the previous Deaflympics held in Melbourne. Thirty-two hotels have collaborated with the Deaflympics in providing accommodation services. These hotels are now 90 percent full, with 11 of them fully booked, said Yen Ya-hsin, head of the accommodation service team of the Taipei Organizing Committee of the 21st Summer Deaflympics. Rooms in the Grand Hotel, known for its beautiful scenery and reasonable prices, were fully booked as early as last November. To ensure hearing-impaired visitors a safe trip, the organizing committee spent NT$2.5 million installing vibrating fire alarms in participating hotels. An additional 1,200 vibrating fire alarms were donated by Rotary International Taiwan. New signal-flashing doorbells have been installed for the Deaflympics participants, too, a service not seen in previous games. The signal-flashing doorbells will be given as presents to local hearing-impaired groups after the games are over. In addition, between May and August of this year staff at all participating hotels received basic training in international sign language, so as to better communicate with their guests and to show their hospitality and care. To encourage tourists to visit Taipei during the games, DOIT head Tuo Chung-hua also held a tourism fair on the Deaflympics in Hong Kong Aug. 31. More than 100 audience members, from the press and from travel agencies, listened to his presentation, said Tou, who assured them that Taipei has not been affected by Typhoon Morakot. Tou informed his audience that 5,000 special tour packages are available, which will allow visitors to buy a set of Hong Kong-Taipei round-trip tickets, stay in a hotel for three days and two nights, and visit such tourist sites as the National Palace Museum and the Taipei 101 Building, all for a total cost of only NT$4,500. (TYH-HZW)