News Roundup: Cats Turn Taiwan’s Houtong into a Tourist Magnet, Plus More Tourism News
For PropertyGuru’s tourism news roundup, feline residents have helped rejuvenate a Taiwanese village, turning it into a tourist magnet. In other stories, the Philippines lags behind its Southeast Asian neighbors when it comes to developing smart tourism, and Cambodia holds its “When Shaolin Meets Bokator in Angkor,” which was more than a spectacular event, but a symbolic of well-planned Cambodian tourism and diplomatic strategies aimed at promoting deeper ties with China.
Cat lovers boost tourism in Taiwan village as feline residents revive once-thriving mining town
Houtong, in Ruifang – west of the capital Taipei – was originally called “monkey cave”. During the 20th century, the area led Taiwan’s coal production – with 220,000 tonnes extracted from the earth each year. This stimulated a population boom peaking at around 6,000.
But young residents emigrated as the industry weakened in the 1990s, leaving fewer than 100 villagers as the job market dried up.
That was until 2008, when a local resident and photographer – Peggy Chien – began taking in abandoned cats. Her efforts, showcased on Flickr, have won over cat lovers across the island. HKFP reports that the influx of more furry friends has helped rejuvenate the declining village.
Today, the village is a tourist magnet and is home to cat-themed cafes, shops selling feline food, relics of the village’s industrial past and places to relax.
Philippines lags behind Southeast Asian neighbors in smart tourism index
The Philippines lags behind some of its Southeast Asian neighbors in terms of preparedness for the development of smart tourism ecosystems, hampered by high internet costs and accessibility issues in rural areas, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said in BusinessWorld .
In a report titled “Preparedness for Smart Tourism Ecosystem Development in Southeast Asia,” the Philippines received an average readiness score of 56. A score of 100 indicates a country’s ability to adopt an environment conducive to smart tourism.
Among the six Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members in the index, the Philippines ranked fourth behind Thailand (72), Vietnam (67) and Indonesia (66).
The Philippines were ahead of Laos (53) and Cambodia (50).
“Despite national tourism policies prioritizing digitalization supported by strong tourism and industrial demand, the development of the smart tourism ecosystem in Southeast Asia is limited by insufficient funding and limited digital skills, urban-rural digital divides, and a legal and political environment. evolving digital technology,” said ADB. said in the report.
Shaolin-Bokator event more than a tourism draw, ‘advancement of cultural diplomacy’
A senior government leader described the Kingdom’s latest tourism joint venture as more than a spectacular event, but a symbol of well-planned Cambodian tourism and diplomatic strategies aimed at promoting deeper ties with China.
Speaking at the inauguration of the event “When Shaolin Meets Bokator in Angkor”, on April 24, Minister of Tourism, Sok Soken, explained that the occasion was more than a display of cultural heritage; It was a strategic move that reinforced the “Cambodia-China People’s Exchange Year 2024”.
Held against the backdrop of the iconic Bayon Temple, in the Angkor Archaeological Park, in the province of Siem Reap, the event was presided over by the minister and was attended by Sun Shougang, vice-governor of the Chinese province of Henan, and Yun Linne , deputy governor of Siem Reap province, second to Phnom Penh Post.
During his speech, Soken emphasized the deep cultural, traditional and diplomatic relations shared between Cambodia and China, highlighting that such cultural exchanges are fundamental to the ongoing “Belt and Road Initiative” and the strengthening of socio-economic ties between the two nations.
Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].
