Taiwan Tourism Bureau partners with AAA

On June 18, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau hosted a cocktail reception to announce its new partnership with AAA, a 51 million member US motoring organization. The reception at Bistro Boudin (Fisherman’s Wharf) was well attended by members of the media, travel writers and representatives of the travel community. During the reception, Sylvia Yu, the director of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau and Steve Chan, senior vice president of Strategy, Marketing and Product Management of AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah (AAA NCNU), introduced AAA’s new trip to Taiwan during the Lantern Festival next February.

Chan said that many people consider AAA, formerly known as the Automobile Association of America (est. 1902), merely as a domestic US organization. However, Triple A in fact began promoting overseas travel after World War II in order to help revive countries damaged by the conflict. In researching AAA’s first trip to Asia, Chan was surprised to find out that it was in 1961 and was a tour of Taiwan. He then shared his personal connections to Taiwan, speaking about studying at National Taiwan University as a college student in the 1980s.

On hand was Liam Mayclem, the host of CBS’s Eye on the Bay, who returned from a visit to Taiwan this April. Mayclem spoke of his trip in glowing terms, saying that “The heart of Asia” slogan was very appropriate, since “The heart really was the people. The genuine hospitality and kindness and the warmth shown by the people everywhere we stopped…” He was very excited to show the promotional clips for the two half hour programs they shot in Taiwan.

He also shared a special moment watching the sunrise at Sun Moon Lake. Not being a morning person, Mayclem said it was rare for him to get up for a sunrise. However, he had heard so much about the magical sunrise that he too made his way to see it at 6:18am. In February, he will host a group of 30 on an exclusive tour of Taiwan. “As for the extraordinary 2013 Lantern Festival Tour, I am excited to personally host the Sun Moon Lake itinerary because with every tour, different, new adventure awaits,” he said.

The Eye on the Bay specials on Mayclem’s Taiwan trip aired on June 18 and 19 at 7pm on CBS.