Tainan the Historic Capital Joins the Ranks of International Tourist Hot Spots - Mayor Huang Wei-Che Discusses Balancing Tourism and Culture in an Interview with The Icons
Posted Date:2024-12-09
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Introduce
Tainan is a historic capital filled with four centuries of historical memories and cultural heritage. It is not only a popular destination for local Taiwanese tourists but has also attracted countless foreign tourists as well. The city’s unique allure has won repeated recognition from leading media organizations including “The Cool List 2024” of the National Geographic Traveller (UK) and CNN Travel’s Best Places to Visit in 2024. The outstanding performance of Tainan is impossible to ignore. On November 19, Tainan City Mayor Huang Wei-che sat down for an interview with The Icons, a global media organization, to share how Tainan gradually stepped into the international spotlight through overseas promotions and international cooperation, then found its own niche in an increasingly competitive global market.
Mayor Huang said that the promotion of international tourism will not only help stimulate the local economy but is also one of the key strategies through which Tainan can realize sustainable development. These included using digital transformation and an innovative mindset to cultivate the international brand image of “Truly Tainan.” Cultural stories were used to guide tourists on an in-depth experience of Tainan’s historical context and human charms. This not only successfully promoted local industries, arts and culture on the international stage but also built new global partnerships through participation in international travel fairs. Tainan did not take part in the fairs to just display its products. The emphasis was on promoting substantive international cooperation and industry exchanges. The strengthening of city and international partnerships helped boost economic growth and cultural exchange. An example of this was the signing of a MOU on tourism and exchange with local businesses and tourist associations at the Busan International Travel Fair. The building of closer connections paved the way for future bilateral collaboration.
In response to the global digital trend, Tainan adopted a series of creative marketing strategies that was successful in boosting its volume and recognition in the international travel market. Mayor Huang revealed that one of the strategies was to leverage the boundless reach of Key Opinion Leaders (KOL). This year (2024), they invited Korean supermodel Bora Kim to shoot videos in Tainan. A pilgrimage to famous scenes from the classic Taiwanese drama “Someday or One Day” connected the city’s rich history with its foodie culture. Another set of videos with family travel as their theme was produced with Thai KOL “IceBank Diary.” The emphasis on exploring natural ecology and cultural sites as a family generated curiosity and interest among many Southeast Asian audiences. At the same time, Tainan invited well-known and respected KOLs in different sports disciplines to promote international sports tourism. Korean pro-golder Seo Soo Yeon, for example, shared highlights from golf tourism in Tainan through her personal social media account and drew the attention of Korean high-end tourism market. Japanese blogger Nakamura Yota introduced the audience to the beauty of slow living in Tainan based on his many years of cycling experience. Mayor Huang Wei-che said that these collaborations have brought Tainan’s local destinations to the attention of many potential overseas audiences and established Tainan’s tourism brand in the international market.
In conclusion, Mayor Huang explained that digital marketing is one of the key tools in tourism promotion. Now that interest has been generated, the city will continue to strengthen its material collaborations in Southeast and Northeast Asia by participating in even more international trade shows and introducing non-stop airline routes. Tainan will be promoted as the best choice for short and medium-range vacations. Internally, the city will continue to refine its tourism reception services and integrate them with local cultural resources to organize cultural festivals and exchanges. Travelers can explore the beauty of Tainan City even as they experience its rich cultural heritage, tremendous energy, and warm hospitality. It is hoped that Tainan can one day shine on the international stage as a sustainable city that inspires travelers and promotes cultural exchanges.
Tourism Bureau Director-General Lin Kuo-hua stated that Tainan City Government is focusing on developing the domestic and overseas tourism market. Diverse marketing techniques are employed to continue stimulating the interest in tourism while fostering a more comfortable and welcoming travel environment for visitors to Tainan. Welcoming both domestic and international visitors to experience the charm of this historic city. For the latest updates on Tainan's attractions and events, please visit and follow the “Travel Tainan Website” and “Travel Tainan Facebook Fan Page”.
Mayor Huang said that the promotion of international tourism will not only help stimulate the local economy but is also one of the key strategies through which Tainan can realize sustainable development. These included using digital transformation and an innovative mindset to cultivate the international brand image of “Truly Tainan.” Cultural stories were used to guide tourists on an in-depth experience of Tainan’s historical context and human charms. This not only successfully promoted local industries, arts and culture on the international stage but also built new global partnerships through participation in international travel fairs. Tainan did not take part in the fairs to just display its products. The emphasis was on promoting substantive international cooperation and industry exchanges. The strengthening of city and international partnerships helped boost economic growth and cultural exchange. An example of this was the signing of a MOU on tourism and exchange with local businesses and tourist associations at the Busan International Travel Fair. The building of closer connections paved the way for future bilateral collaboration.
In response to the global digital trend, Tainan adopted a series of creative marketing strategies that was successful in boosting its volume and recognition in the international travel market. Mayor Huang revealed that one of the strategies was to leverage the boundless reach of Key Opinion Leaders (KOL). This year (2024), they invited Korean supermodel Bora Kim to shoot videos in Tainan. A pilgrimage to famous scenes from the classic Taiwanese drama “Someday or One Day” connected the city’s rich history with its foodie culture. Another set of videos with family travel as their theme was produced with Thai KOL “IceBank Diary.” The emphasis on exploring natural ecology and cultural sites as a family generated curiosity and interest among many Southeast Asian audiences. At the same time, Tainan invited well-known and respected KOLs in different sports disciplines to promote international sports tourism. Korean pro-golder Seo Soo Yeon, for example, shared highlights from golf tourism in Tainan through her personal social media account and drew the attention of Korean high-end tourism market. Japanese blogger Nakamura Yota introduced the audience to the beauty of slow living in Tainan based on his many years of cycling experience. Mayor Huang Wei-che said that these collaborations have brought Tainan’s local destinations to the attention of many potential overseas audiences and established Tainan’s tourism brand in the international market.
In conclusion, Mayor Huang explained that digital marketing is one of the key tools in tourism promotion. Now that interest has been generated, the city will continue to strengthen its material collaborations in Southeast and Northeast Asia by participating in even more international trade shows and introducing non-stop airline routes. Tainan will be promoted as the best choice for short and medium-range vacations. Internally, the city will continue to refine its tourism reception services and integrate them with local cultural resources to organize cultural festivals and exchanges. Travelers can explore the beauty of Tainan City even as they experience its rich cultural heritage, tremendous energy, and warm hospitality. It is hoped that Tainan can one day shine on the international stage as a sustainable city that inspires travelers and promotes cultural exchanges.
Tourism Bureau Director-General Lin Kuo-hua stated that Tainan City Government is focusing on developing the domestic and overseas tourism market. Diverse marketing techniques are employed to continue stimulating the interest in tourism while fostering a more comfortable and welcoming travel environment for visitors to Tainan. Welcoming both domestic and international visitors to experience the charm of this historic city. For the latest updates on Tainan's attractions and events, please visit and follow the “Travel Tainan Website” and “Travel Tainan Facebook Fan Page”.
