Cuisine, convenience and hospitality keep tourists coming back to Taiwan

2018/04/23

First-time tourists to Taiwan are often drawn by renowned natural and urban attractions like Alishan, or Mt. Ali, Sun Moon Lake and the Taipei 101 skyscraper. But what inspires visitors to return is the warmth of the people, said American couple Liz and Mike Medes, who have vacationed in the country five times since 2011.
 
 According to the retirees, on each of their trips, they have been approached by locals eager to offer assistance or point them in the right direction. “They may not speak our language, but they always try to be helpful when they see us looking at a map,” Liz said, adding that this friendliness is aptly conveyed in the nation’s tourism promotion slogan—“The Heart of Asia.”
 
Once considered a hidden gem, Taiwan is an increasingly common fixture on lists of the region’s emerging destinations. The number of foreign arrivals has surpassed 10 million annually since 2015, with 37 percent of these repeat visitors, statistics from the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications showed.
 
 The couple’s sentiments are shared by many tourists, with hospitality cited in a 2016 bureau survey as among the three most enjoyable aspects of visiting the country alongside cuisine and scenery.
 
 When offering advice to first-time tourists, the husband and wife encourage them to dive in head first, and particularly when it comes to food. “Eat everything you can, don’t say no to anything and try everything,” Liz said. Night markets are a must, the couple added, recommending a variety of signature snacks ranging from fried tofu and oyster omelets to pepper buns, scallion pancakes and shaved ice desserts.
 
 While Taiwan’s night markets have long been touted by blogs, internet personalities and major media outlets like CNN, the nation’s restaurant scene is now gaining international similar recognition, as highlighted by the March launch of the Michelin Guide Taipei. In the inaugural edition, 20 restaurants received between one and three stars, with a further 36 listed in the Bib Gourmand category. This outstanding performance confirmed long-standing reports by foodies in the know of Taiwan’s diverse epicurean delights.
 
 To Mike and Liz, the secret of Taiwan’s culinary excellence is the freshness of local produce. “The fruits and vegetables … everything is so green, pretty and well taken care of,” Liz said.
 
 Seafood establishments are a favorite of Mike’s owing to the speed at which catches of the day at local wet markets make it to restaurant tables. “When you bite into a whole fish, it’s just so moist and fresh tasting.”
 
When visiting the capital, the couple recommends a lose itinerary with plenty of time factored in for wandering, exploring and soaking up the sights and sounds. This approach is made possible, they said, by the Taipei Metro, also known as the MRT, or Mass Rapid Transit. Spanning five main lines serving 117 stations, the system has received widespread acclaim for its cleanliness, punctuality, reliability and safety in media outlets such as Business Insider, Fodor’s Travel and The New York Times.
 
 The subway is complemented by the Taoyuan Metro, or Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Mass Rapid Transit System. Launched in 2017, the new line shuttles passengers from the country’s main international gateway to Taipei Main Station in the heart of the capital in as little as 36 minutes. From there, they can transfer to Taipei Metro, Taiwan High Speed Rail or conventional trains operated by the Taiwan Railways Administration.
 
“As far as we’re concerned, the Taipei MRT is the best subway system in the world,” Liz said, praising its comfort, convenience and user-friendliness.
 
 Mike lauded the metro for offering tourists quick and convenient access to all areas of the city as well as scenic spots like hiking trails. “You can’t go wrong,” he said. “You can just get off the MRT and go eat and go hiking.”
 
To the frequent visitors, Taiwan offers the complete package. “I don’t know any place else on Earth where you have a metropolis like this with dynamite cuisine, art, fashion and shopping, but only be 10 minutes away from an outdoor experience,” Liz said. “That’s pretty spectacular; that’s what brings us back.”

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/news.php?unit=11&post=133026)