Taiwan inaugurates first service center in Europe

The Tourism Administration on Tuesday opened its first service center in Europe, at the Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris, to provide tourism and travel information on Taiwan.

The Taiwan Tourism Information Center was inaugurated to increase the number of travelers visiting Taiwan from Europe, the agency said.

After the plaque unveiling ceremony for the new service center, the agency showed a presentation on travel to Taiwan, which was attended by more than 60 French travel agencies, to explore business and cooperative opportunities in tourism.

In addition to services provided by the center, Taiwan’s tourism resources were introduced in more detail during the briefing.

At the event, Explorer senior executive Nathalie Evrard said that her travel agency organized its first tour group to Taiwan shortly after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake on the Richter scale struck Hualien County on April 3.

The group had just returned to France, she added.

The group traveled across the nation from Kenting National Park in the south to Yehliu Geopark and Yangmingshan National Park in the north through Tainan and Nantou County, said Evrard, who was also on the tour.

Members of the tour group were mesmerized by the Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Kaohsiung and Taoist temples around Taiwan, she said, adding that these temple cultures do not exist in France.

Evrard also said fine food is Taiwan’s strength.

In terms of nature, she recommended the Alishan National Scenic Area.

“Taiwan is truly a land blessed by the gods. I think everyone should go to Alishan. It’s so beautiful there. I wanted to stay,” Evrard said.

Another French travel agency, Les Maisons du Voyage, also began offering Taiwan travel tours several years ago.

Customers are fascinated by Taiwan’s culture, nature, metropolitan areas and rich history, said Marie Fejoz, Les Maisons du Voyage’s tour package organizer.

Since the COVID-19 restrictions in Taiwan were lifted in October 2022, the number of inquiries about Taiwan travel has increased, especially for customized itineraries, Fejoz said.

However, it is difficult to find tour guides with French language skills and a cultural and historical background in Taiwan, Fejoz said, adding that this is an area where improvements need to be made.

Pascale Ouellette, a travel specialist who has lived in Taiwan for three years, said she usually tells customers that Taiwan is one of the most beautiful countries among the 80 she has visited

It is an absolutely must-visit destination, Ouellette added.