The Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has teamed up with Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. to launch a toll-free tourist hotline May 1. By dialing 0800-011-765 one can get information in Mardarin Chinese, English and Japanese 24 hours a day.
Additionally, the Tourism Bureau has its own non-toll-free tourist information service number, (02) 2717-3737. This service is available only during the day from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., however. With 20 information personnel manning the hotline phones round the clock, those who cannot wait until the next morning to get urgently needed info in their own language can now rest assured that someone will always be there for them.
Actually, the hotline began operating on a trial basis April 1. According to Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwanese tend to call up for directions when they get lost, whereas most foreigners call to inquire about transportation links between destinations. Some foreigners have even called up on cell phones so that a hotline worker can tell their cab driver where to go.
To make the new service more popular--during its trial period there were only about 20 callers per day--perhaps those running it ought to consider a name change. Presently, it goes by the unwieldy name the "Visitors Information Call Center." Ironically, the less accessible day-time-only info service has the better, simpler name, "Tourist Information Hotline."
Tourism Information Service
Tourist Information Hotline TEL:02-27173737 Tourism Bureau Information Desk TEL:02-23491635 Travel Information Service Center TEL:0800-011765
Tourism Bureau Tourist Service Center • at CKS Int'I Airport Passenger Terminal Building I TEL:03-3834631 Passenger Terminal Building II TEL:03-3983341 • at Kaohsiung Int'l Airport TEL:07-8057888 / 0800-252550
National Scenic Area Administrations Tourist Service Center
• Northeast Coast TEL: 02-2499-1115 ext. 221 FAX: 02-2499-1170 E-Mail: info@necoast-nsa.gov.tw
• East Coast TEL: 089-841-520 ext. 1800 FAX: 089-841-567 E-Mail: info@eastcoast-nsa.gov.tw
• Penghu TEL: 06-921-6521 FAX: 06-921-6541 E-Mail: penghu@penghu-nsa.gov.tw
Tapeng Bay TEL: 08-833-8100 ext. 248 FAX: 08-833-8108 E-Mail: tbnsa@mail.tbnsa.gov.tw
• East Rift Valley TEL: 03-887-5306 FAX: 03-887-5358 E-Mail: tbrochtb@mail.tbrochtb.gov.tw
Matzu TEL: 0836-25630 FAX: 0836-25627 E-Mail: rs@matzu-nsa.gov.tw
Sun Moon Lake TEL: 049-2855668 FAX: 049-2855593
E-Mail: smlnsa@ms36.hinet.net
Tri-Mountain TEL: 04-2331-2678 ext.130 FAX: 04-2331-0863 E-Mail: service @ mail.tourism.gov.tw
Alishan TEL: 05-2593-900 FAX: 05-2594-308
Maolin TEL: 07-6801488 FAX: 07-6801347 E-Mail: maulin@mail.maulin-nsa.gov.tw
North Coast & Guanyinshan TEL: 02-26364503 FAX: 02-26366675 E-Mail: j73108@ms69.hinet.net
Last Update: May 12, 2004
