Delivering his speech at the opening of the travel fair, Deputy Minister Chung said that, as the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down in Taiwan, it’s time for people to travel to Hakka villages to experience local culture. He welcomes visitors from all over the country to take a trip to Hakka settlements to savor every mouthful of Hakka dishes, listen to various Hakka accents, and enjoy beautiful scenery.
HAC Minister Yiong Con-ziin made a surprise appearance at the travel fair later in the afternoon, showing his support for tour operators and engaging with the fairgoers. In his interview, Yiong said that in-depth travel demonstrating Hakka culture focuses on exploring local stories which can make emotional connections with travelers, adding that short trips also stimulate consumption and economy in Hakka communities. He was pleased to see all visitors bring their quintuple vouchers, Hakka e-vouchers, and other extra-bonus vouchers that were rolled out as part of the government’s COVID-19 economic relief package to spend in Hakka villages.
HAC has integrated tourism resources from the Hakka regions on Taiwan Romantic Route 3, Provincial Highway 9, and in Liudui settlements to plan for Hakka-themed travels. Twenty-five tour operators and local community organizations were invited to take part in the travel package program.
HAC especially rolled out 15 travel routes featuring Hakka cuisine at a Hakka farming village of Miaoli, Hsinchu’s Shi’erliao (十二寮) area replete with natural beauty, historical sites in the Liudui settlements of southern Taiwan, Pingtung’s cacao tour, and Hualien’s Fenglin Township that was recognized as an international slow town. In addition, more than 11 hiking trails were being promoted by travel agencies, including Raknus Selu Trail (樟之細路) that used to be a commercial passage for transporting tea and camphor.