The Taipei International Travel Fair took place at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center from Oct. 30 through Nov. 2. President Tsai Ing-wen was at the opening of the travel fair to show her support for tour operators and promote Taiwan’s tourism industry.

President Tsai said this year’s travel fair is one of the few public events in the world that haven’t been canceled amid the coronavirus pandemic, adding that she saw the vitality and resilience of Taiwan’s tourism industry on the occasion.

Although this is a difficult time for the travel industry due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Tsai vowed to help the tour operators weather the storm through the domestic travel subsidy program, which is expected to generate NT$63.5 billion in economic benefits, and has already seen the performance of the food and beverages industry hit a new high in August.

Tsai said that she herself has made a small contribution to the country’s tourism industry by visiting tourist attractions from Keelung City in northern Taiwan to Pingtung County in the south.

The President later visited the pavilion set up by the Hakka Affairs Council (HAC) at the travel fair, encouraging the public to take a trip to Hakka settlements.

According to HAC Deputy Minister Fan Tso-ming (范佐銘), the Council rolled out more than 55 travel routes featuring Hakka folk beliefs; the Hakka lifestyle by the sea at Xinwu’s Yong'an Fishing Port in Taoyuan; Raknus Selu Trail (樟之細路) that used to be a commercial passage for transporting tea and camphor; and Hakka wineries in Changhua’s Erlin Township.

In addition, artisans and craftsmen are invited to join HAC’s travel package program to present exquisite handicrafts of Hakka settlements, including ceramics and oil-paper umbrellas, the deputy minister said.