Taiwan Today

The central government is encouraging the public to look to the seas for recreational opportunities.

On a sunny day last October, the aura of excitement was palpable on Dongji Island as throngs of people waited to board a boat headed west to Qimei Island. The voyage marked the launch of a new route connecting outlying Penghu County’s four picturesque islands in South Penghu Marine National Park. The event was followed by the opening of Sizihwan Marine Center in the southern port city of Kaohsiung a month later. The brand-new facility constructed with funding from the Ministry of Education’s Sports Administration (SA) became one of 16 major athletic venues offering training in water sports like kayaking, sailing and surfing to improve the accessibility of aquatic activities.
 
The two initiatives are part of the government’s multifaceted strategy to bolster marine tourism in Taiwan. “We’re working to create an ­environment that encourages people to get out on the seas,” said Yeh Hsieh-lung (葉協隆), director general of Maritime and Port Bureau (MPB) under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. Among other endeavors, the bureau is providing incentives to ferry operators to open new routes like the one in Penghu and another slated to connect Taipei Port in New Taipei City’s Bali District with Lienchiang County about 200 kilometers to the northwest. Currently there are 14 services from Taiwan proper to offshore islands and 10 running between outlying islets.
 
Blue Highways
 
Also high on the MPB’s agenda is the development of the expedition cruise ship industry, which utilizes a type of small, high-end craft weighing 10,000 to 30,000 tons. To this end, the bureau co-organized the inaugural Asia Archipelago Cruise Industry Forum last October, inviting entrepreneurs and government officials from across the Indo Pacific. The online event was the first step toward setting up a network of cruise lines to islands in the region.

Another area targeted for expansion is yachting. According to Yeh, a major barrier to the pursuit in the past was a regulation prohibiting joint vessel ownership. “When the restriction was removed in 2020, people became more willing to pool money to buy a yacht, which had previously been seen as a luxury only for the wealthy,” the official said. Starting later this year, MPB additionally plans to provide subsidies to those who hold yachting licenses but lack their own watercraft, enabling them to rent ­equipment from private yacht training centers. With nearly 20,000 license holders but only 760 yachts in the country, the move stands to benefit thousands of sailing enthusiasts.
 
As the pleasure sailing and marine transport sectors take off, MPB is strengthening related infrastructure such as moorings. The current 1,041 yacht berths available in the country are expected to swell to nearly 1,600 by 2026, while major harbors in Lienchiang and outlying Kinmen County are being overhauled to accommodate 10,000-ton ships next year. The construction of an additional 10 floating docks and eight passenger centers at key ferry ports around Taiwan aims to guarantee the comfort and convenience of maritime travelers. Similarly, a brand-new boot-shaped passenger terminal at Port of Kaohsiung, the largest harbor in Taiwan, will be ready for use later this year.
 
Together with state-backed Taiwan Design Research Institute in Taipei City, MPB is striving to ensure such facilities are the height of sophistication. “This is an integral part of our branding effort for Taiwan’s blue highways,” Yeh said. The first upgrade in the project, a passenger hall at a ferry harbor in Penghu, is expected to be completed in April.

Sea Sports
 
Growing in tandem with water transportation, aquatic activities have exploded in popularity in recent years, largely thanks to promotional efforts by SA. In 2020 the agency initiated a project to introduce nautical sports like standup paddleboarding and kayaking to elementary, middle and high school students as well as teachers, principals and local government education officials. Six Taiwan universities providing instructors and equipment organized a total of 96 training sessions attracting about 5,000 attendees under the initiative last year alone. “It’s especially important for government and school officials to take part since they’re responsible for coordinating events geared toward children and teens,” said Chang Sheng-nian (張聖年), chief of SA’s School Physical Education Division.
 
As water sports gain traction, Taiwan Dive in the southern county of Pingtung is seeing a dramatic uptick in people signing up to explore the country’s undersea world, said founder Dylan Chen (陳琦恩). While fewer than 1,000 first-time scuba divers booked the company’s half-day experiences in 2011, the number rose to about 6,000 in 2019. Those wishing to reach greater depths can enroll in Taiwan Dive’s three-day certification courses, which train divers to safely descend deeper than 12 meters. Approximately 1,000 people completed the classes in 2020, up from 600 in 2016.
 
Chen anticipates interest in diving will continue to surge as an increasing number of people share photos of stunning locations like Lanyu—also known as Orchid Island—on social media. Situated about 90 kilometers off Taiwan’s southeastern coast, Lanyu is the country’s top dive destination on the strength of the high visibility, rich marine life and rugged terrain in the waters surrounding the island, according to Chen. Another hot spot for scuba diving is Xiaoliuqiu, an islet off Taiwan’s southwestern shore, where there is a high chance of spotting sea turtles. Chen is planning to launch a 14-day tour package with stops at these and other quality sites in cooperation with local hotels, restaurants and scuba gear providers.

Aquatic Affinity
 
Perhaps Taiwan’s biggest claim to fame in the realm of aquatics, however, is surfing. People astride boards waiting to catch a wave are an increasingly common sight along the country’s coasts, as the ­number of people who engage in the activity regularly has reached roughly 20,000. “Taiwan is an exhilarating place to surf, especially when a nearby typhoon is churning up big waves with its ­peripheral circulation,” said Yu Min-ching (余明錦), director of Chinese Taipei Surfing Association. “The strong northeast winds in fall and winter are a boon to surfers for the same reason.” An SA-supported body, the association is leading local ­development of the sport by organizing annual national championships at Jinzun Harbor in eastern Taiwan’s Taitung County, the top surfing location in the country.

With its debut in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, surfing is expected to see a fresh wave of devotees among Taiwan’s youth. Campaigns aimed at ­cultivating athletes for the Olympic team are driving the sport’s growth for all, Yu said, citing a project launched by the association in 2018 to identify and train aspiring competitive surfers. Children and adolescents taking part learn the basics during their summer vacations, after which those demonstrating ­aptitude are selected to receive further training year-round. In 2019 Yu started to teach surfing at University of Taipei’s Department of Aquatic Sports in the hope of training more young instructors to help out with his talent-nurturing project.
 
Surfing and other water activities are on the growth track in Taiwan not only due to efforts to groom new athletes but also because the public views the ocean as more approachable than ever before. “As an island nation, Taiwan can benefit greatly from getting people to embrace the sea,” Yeh said. “Only when the ocean plays a personal role in people’s lives will they feel the urgency to protect it. Developing marine tourism is crucial to the sustainable development of Taiwan.”

Write to Oscar Chung at mhchung@mofa.gov.tw