‘Travel packages should be informative’
We realised that travel packages that are offered by travel agencies years ago no longer meet the demand of tourists. It is not only about good food and shopping; they are looking for a spectacular experience that they are unable to get in their own home. Tony Wu, Director of Taiwan Tourism Bureau (Kuala Lumpur) office
MIRI: Strategies to promote a country’s tourism industry should not merely focus on the business opportunity as offering special and informative travel experience as well as improving the country’s safety help keep tourists coming back.
Director of Taiwan Tourism Bureau ( Kuala Lumpur) office, Tony Wu, said this during an interview with The Borneo Post at the bureau’s Miri roadshow on Monday.
“We realised that travel packages that are offered by travel agencies years ago no longer meet the demand of tourists. It is not only about good food and shopping; they are looking for a spectacular experience that they are unable to get in their own home.
“Hence, travel packages should include visits to the local renowned factory or farm (for those who love nature), letting them have a hands- on experience so that they would remember their visit as a very memorable one,” he said.
Wu pointed out that one of the best tourist experiences in Taiwan is that tourists often feel very much welcomed by the locals.
“The ‘ human touch’ shown by Taiwanese plays a huge part in the tourism business. Though tourists are technically our clients, however, we should treat them like a part of the family, making them feel that Taiwan is their second home,” he added.
Wu’s advice on safety and security – tourists’ main priority – is that they get to go home in one piece with beautiful memories of the places they visited.
“The local authority should make sure that security is there to protect them.”
Wu was a speaker at the launch of Taiwan Leisure Farms Workshop which was held at Imperial Palace Hotel on Monday, sharing the perks that are offered to tourists and travel agencies in Malaysia.
“We recently launched a promotion, ‘ UnSung Hero’, that offers one free hotel stay at any hotel in Taiwan to Malaysian travellers who are engaged in journalism, medical health, teaching, public services etc.
“These professions involve serving the community. We’d like to show our gratitude to these people for their contribution to society. Adding to this, disabled people who travel to Taiwan will also get to enjoy the same promotion, as they are brave people who contribute their part to the community,” he added.
The workshop saw representatives from 10 leisure farms around Taiwan introducing and promoting their respective farms to travel agencies here.
Miri was one of three stops for the roadshow which include Kuching and Sibu.