Tourism industry of southern Taiwan’s Xiaoliuqiu Island and Kenting urging government to further relax COVID-19 restrictions due to slow business

Tuesday, August 17, 2021

The tourism industry of southern Taiwan’s Xiaoliuqiu Island and Kenting is urging the government to further relax COVID-19 restrictions in the wake of slow business.

Representatives of the tourism industry on Xiaoliuqiu Island, a small island off the Coast of Donggang Township in Pingtung County, presented a joint statement on Friday (Aug. 13), saying that when COVID was increasing, the island came to known as the safest place in Taiwan, with all tourism operators voluntarily suspending operations considering public safety.

However, since the COVID alert was lowered to Level 2 on July 27, tourist attractions and water sports on the island have remained off-limits, thereby creating grave damage to the tourism industry.

Local tourism operators are offering discounts for visitors with proof of vaccination or negative rapid screening results for improving tourism on the island.

Since Taiwan downgraded the alert to Level 2, the Kenting National Park Headquarters has allowed certain water sports like surfing, paddle boarding, canoeing, scuba diving, surfing, and jet skiing, with only one person allowed per canoe or paddleboard. However, swimming and snorkeling are still banned, and swimming pools at hotels will remain closed until at least Aug. 23.

Howard Beach Resort Kenting General Manager Chang Chi-kuang said that at present, the occupancy rate at the hotel is only about 30%, and he hoped that the government will initiate conditions for hotel swimming pools and gyms to reopen.

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