Hotels mushroom in Ximen as international tourism recovers

Hotels mushroom in Ximen as international tourism recovers

2024-03-05

International visitors are returning to Taiwan, and for many of them a trip to Ximen in the capital is a must. According to Taipei city data, more than 3.72 million people visited Ximen last year. The location is also a prime spot for hotels, with many international chains now setting up branches in the shopping district. But some hoteliers say the government should crack down on illegal operators who are making money off tourists at the expense of personal safety.

A street performer strums his guitar. Ximen is a popular place with the young crowd, and also with tourists. For many, a picture with the rainbow on the road is a must, and queues often form here.

Tourist
South Korea
I think it’s really colorful and fashionable, like Hongdae, or Itaewon.

Tourist
Malaysia
It’s seems like a place for young people. It feels youthful here.

Tourist
New Zealand
I just arrived in Taiwan and I just wanted to walk around. It seems popular.

The transport ministry says that since Taiwan reopened to international tourism, Hong Kong, Macao, Japan and South Korea have become the main source of travelers for Taiwan. According to Taipei city data, more than 3.72 million people visited Ximen in 2023. Local businesses are pulling all the stops to profit from the influx of tourists.

Hsiao Chun-chieh
Taipei tourism official
There’s about 120 hotels in Ximen. They’re mostly small- and medium-sized hotels as well as youth hostels. In recent years, some international hotel chains have determined that Ximen is a good place for expansion, and they’ve been opening their first outlets there.

Look at the map and you’ll find the highest concentration of hotels is the stretch from Zhonghua Road Sec. 1 to Xining South Road. It’s mostly small- and medium-sized hotels. A room with just 5 pings of floor space can accommodate two bunk beds, a convenient stay for people who pack light. But hoteliers say that illegal accommodation businesses are eating away at their profits. One says that he can’t fill in every bed in the peak season even if he drops room prices to just a couple NT$100 per night.

Mike
Hotelier
The government could step in and provide guidance to guarantee the safety of guests.

Tourism is recovering, and visitors are pouring back in to Ximen. Hoteliers say they hope the government will crack down on illegal operators to ensure the safety of visitors.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
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西門町旅宿業復甦非法業者也削價競爭

2024-03-05

疫情之後，西門町商圈明顯復甦，根據台北市觀傳局統計，光是去年就多達372萬人次到訪，不只當地旅宿業者生意回流，國際品牌像是日本相鐵、西鐵集團，也相繼來插旗。不過業者坦言，非法業者也不少，就算價格壓到一晚幾百元，還是無法滿訂，呼籲政府加強規範。

街頭藝人撥動吉他，彈奏音樂，為西門町增添活潑年輕的氛圍，遊客在彩虹地景前大排長龍，旅程的第一站，要先拍照打卡留念。

[[南韓遊客]]
“這裡很豐富多彩、很潮，很像弘大、梨泰院”

[[馬來西亞遊客]]
“想說年輕人的地方，就是比較年輕化”

[[紐西蘭遊客]]
“我才剛抵達台灣，想說到處看看，這裡感覺很受歡迎”

疫情之後國門開放，根據交通部統計，港、澳、日、韓民眾最愛來台，再看看台北市觀傳局資料，光是2023年，西門町高達372萬人次來走訪，也讓旅宿業者上緊發條，搶賺觀光財。

[[台北市觀傳局主秘蕭君杰]]
“西門町旅館家數大概120家，以中小規模的旅館或青年旅館為主，近年來一些國際品牌飯店，都評估西門町未來發展相當好，所以陸續在西門町設立第一家旅館”

攤開地圖，從中華路一段到西寧南路一帶，堪稱一級戰區，以中小型旅宿最多， 5坪空間裡，4床上下鋪整齊擺放，方便一卡皮箱入住遊玩，不過，非法業者削價競爭，就算合法業者單人雅房一晚只要幾百元，在旺季還有空床。

[[旅館業者 Mike]]
“政府可以看是積極來輔導，對住客安全相對有保障”

觀光復甦，旅宿業生意跟著活絡起來，不過非法業者劣幣逐良幣，合法業者只希望政府加強規範，讓遊客住得安心有保障。

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民視台灣台（152頻道）週日至週五晚上9:30
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This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund

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