Via Newtalk: Dire! Beitou Hotels Hit Zero Occupancy - Legislator Urges Hot Spring Visits with "Three Guarantees"
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- Posted by：Editor
- 2020-07-03 ‧ 1523reads
After restrictions lifted, tourism across Taiwan showed significant growth. However, compared to other cities and outlying islands, Taipei City became the hardest-hit disaster area for hospitality. Although hotels launched promotional packages, Beitou's June occupancy reached only 24%, down 40% from 2019, and compared to the worst pandemic months of March-April, it only increased 1-3%. The Beitou hot spring commercial district was virtually the hardest-hit area of all.
Legislator Ho Chih-Wei joined Beitou hospitality operators today in calling on Taipei residents to support Taipei, inviting the public to enjoy "light travel" in Beitou. Multiple premium Beitou hot spring hotels also launched new travel deals paired with triple stimulus vouchers, offering more value to the public.
"Don't forget wellness while fighting the pandemic - welcome everyone to soak in Beitou hot springs!" Ho Chih-Wei said. Due to COVID-19, many people have been cooped up at home and are practically rusting. Hot spring bathing benefits the body, and the public should visit Beitou for hot springs more often.
Ho Chih-Wei mentioned three guarantees for visiting Beitou hot springs: "guaranteed no traffic jams," "no price increases," and "service quality guaranteed." He lamented that post-restriction Taiwan's economy is strange - the more urban the area, the more dire; the more international, the more pitiful. "Please come, friends from Greater Taipei! Northern friends worried about traffic - welcome to stay and play in the north."
Chairperson Chou Shui-Mei pointed out that Beitou is an international hot spring destination that has attracted countless visitors in recent years. Under the pandemic's impact, many people traveled to central/southern Taiwan, outlying islands, and eastern Taiwan, while Taipei's urban tourist attractions, without international tourism, face a shortage of visitors, unable to compete with other cities' performance.
Chairperson Chou Shui-Mei stated that Beitou's current occupancy rate is extremely low. Beitou has 2,000 hot spring hotels, and many have zero occupancy this week - "extremely dire." She called out that Beitou-Shilin is Taipei's back garden, hoping Taipei residents would stay in Taipei and support Taipei tourism, otherwise with crowds dwindling, hotels may face closures one after another with staff being laid off.