President Tsai Ing-wen said Sept. 27 that Taiwan is willing and able to share its extensive industry development experience in advancing sustainable tourism.
As a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan is seizing every opportunity to collaborate with major stakeholders in minimizing the impact of tourism on natural resources and social systems, Tsai said. This commitment is best illustrated by the government’s all-out effort to help realize the U.N.’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, she added.
Tsai made the remarks during the opening of the Most Beautiful Bay Carnival, a monthslong event staged on the sidelines of the 14th World Congress of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World running until Oct. 1 in Taiwan’s outlying Penghu County. The annual gathering features conferences exhibitions, festivals and sports tournaments.
According to Tsai, Penghu is the standard-bearer in Taiwan for ecological tourism and marine resources conservation. Hosting the annual meeting of the MBBW reflects this fact and is a resounding vote of confidence in related policymaking by the central and local governments, she said.
It is anticipated, Tsai said, that the congress will enable participants from home and abroad to experience the natural beauty of Penghu and see firsthand what can be achieved when economic planning is carried out in accordance with the principles of sustainability.
Situated in the middle of the Taiwan Strait, Penghu comprises nearly 100 islets dotted over 127 square kilometers. Its world-class cultural and natural attractions include Erkan Historical Houses in Xiyu Township, basalt columns on Tongpan Island, Jibei Sand Spit in Baisha Township and Twin Heart Stone Weir in Qimei Township.
Founded in 1997, MBBA is committed to “saving the natural heritage of the bay, preserving its identity, respecting the way of life and the traditions of those that inhabit the area whilst ensuring economic development compatible with these commitments,” according to the UNESCO-endorsed nongovernmental organization’s website.
Members of the organization include 43 bays from 26 members. These include Mont St-Michel Bay in France, Yeosu Bay in South Korea, San Francisco Bay in the U.S. and Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. (Taiwan Today)
