Hualien night market to launch voucher programs to draw crowds back

Hualien night market to launch voucher programs to draw crowds back

2024-04-23

The earthquake on April 3 in Hualien has dealt a devastating blow to the county’s tourism sector. Tourist spots, such as Dongdamen Night Market, have seen profits crumble. In a bid to lure crowds back, the Ministry of Economic Affairs will launch a night market voucher scheme starting in May. Let’s hear from those affected in Hualien.

Huang Chia-ming
Dongdamen Night Market
There are more market stands than visitors. Crowds aren’t even 10% of what they used to be during weekdays. Vendors selling food aren’t even opening up shop. Because if they do, their ingredients will go bad and they’ll have to throw it all out.

Chang Chih-hsiang
Hualien Tourism Department
The April 3 earthquake caused very big losses for Hualien’s tourism industry. Especially at night markets, and commercial districts. Immediately after the quake, the Hualien government sought relief and revitalization packages from the Ministry of Economic Affairs.

The first voucher scheme will launch in May and last through July. Buy a voucher for NT$100 to get NT$200 to spend at Dongdamen Night Market. The second scheme will launch in August. Show proof that you are staying overnight in Hualien to get a NT$100 cash voucher at the market.

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Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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提振花蓮觀光經濟部發好市加倍券.夜市振興券

2024-04-23

403花蓮強震重創觀光，知名的東大門夜市生意大受影響。為了振興經濟，經濟部宣布，從五月份開始，針對東大門夜市，推出好市加倍券和夜市振興券，盼望帶動觀光人潮。

[[東大門福町夜市主委黃家明]]
“攤商會比遊客還要多，跟以前的平日比起來的話，一成都不到。做吃的話，基本上他們都不敢開店，他們一開店的話，食材的耗損，丟掉的會很多。”

[[花蓮縣觀光處長張志翔]]
“0403的地震對於花蓮觀光的相關產業造成非常巨大的損失，尤其在我們的夜市以及商圈的部分。縣府第一時間也跟經濟部爭取，相關紓困跟振興的方案。”

五月到七月，經濟部推出東大門夜市的"好市加倍券"，100元可換取200元價值的物品。第二階段，八月份"夜市振興券"登場，只要憑花蓮住宿證明，就可向東大門夜市櫃檯，拿取價值100元的振興券。

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Two buildings partially collapse in Hualien after series of earthquakes

Over the past two days, Hualien has been rocked by a string of earthquakes, including two over magnitude 6. The quakes led to the partial collapse of two buildings in Hualien. One was a hotel that had been vacant due to renovations. The other was a residential building that was heavily damaged after the April 3 quake. No casualties were reported.

At 2:26 a.m., a magnitude 6 earthquake struck Hualien, sending the Full Hotel building tilting to one side.

Police and firefighters rushed to the scene, calling out to potential casualties. During the rescue effort, another earthquake struck.

First responders cordoned off the area to prevent public access. After inspecting the site, they confirmed that the hotel was empty, as it had been closed for renovations. No casualties were reported.

Teng Zeu-yu
Hualien County Economic Affairs Department
We’re starting by dismantling public facilities in the vicinity, such as that traffic light. The procedure will be similar to the demolition of the Uranus Building. We’ll fill in the ground first to provide support to the building, so that it doesn’t tilt as much.

The temblor also further tilted the Tong Shuai Building, which was unoccupied after being marked for demolition following the April 3 earthquake. The first floor caved in, leaving the second floor at ground level. The Hualien County government established a disaster response command center, and Commissioner Hsu Chen-wei proceeded to the scene soon after.

Tong Shuai Building spokesperson
The building had already been marked for demolition. They had put support beams on the side. It was all normal before 5 or 6 today. But this last time, when we tried to go near after 5, they didn’t let us through.

Teng Zeu-yu
Hualien County Economic Affairs Department
If reinforcements can come over immediately, demolition work can start at the Tong Shuai Building. Due to the building’s size, the process should take about two weeks.

Work and classes were suspended in Hualien on Tuesday. The county government has advised residents to stay in open spaces in case another quake strikes.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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Quake cluster closes roads, damages bridge in Hualien

Widespread damage has been reported in Hualien as a result of the quakes. At Xiulin Township, the piers of Tongmen Bridge were shifted out of place, and big cracks have appeared on the asphalt. Provincial Highway 8 is now closed off to traffic until repairs are made and debris is cleared. Taroko National Park will remain closed until May 7.

Here at Hualien’s Xiulin Township, the bridge’s piers have been displaced. This is the Tongmen Bridge, the only access road to the Mukumugi Valley. Large cracks appeared on the asphalt after the quakes.

Chung Ming-hsien
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We’re still getting a lot of aftershocks, everyone is scared. Even I haven’t slept. We don’t know how much damage the bridge has sustained.

After a preliminary assessment, it was determined that the misalignment was caused by loosened soil. Though the bridge is still passable, traffic has been limited to just one direction at a time to ensure safety.

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On Monday afternoon, Silks Place Taroko Hotel announced that it would remain closed until June 30. Taroko National Park will remain closed until May 7. One Hualien resident reported seeing a large swarm of millipedes on the road Monday evening, leading himto suspect that a big earthquake was on its way.

Mr. Wu
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It was along the riverside near Tzu Chi Elementary School. I was taking a stroll and saw that the ground next to the gazebo was covered with millipedes. We walk past there every day and had never seen that before.

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AI singing platform creates official versions of Chinese-speakers’ voices

In the rising world of AI, Taiwan has a new AI voice platform. It specializes in creating official versions of Chinese speakers’ voices. A special song featuring the voices of four beloved folk singers has been released to mark the platform going online. Users will be able to put their own compositions and lyrics on the platform, and get them sung by one of these beloved singers within two or three minutes.

Four folk singers collaborated on this new release. But the whole track, from the singers’ voice to the music video, was made by AI.

Li Ming-teh
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I can tell my grandson, “Grandpa sang this song,” and then he’ll say he doesn’t believe it. And I’ll say, “No, really, we recorded it 60 years ago.”

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It gave me goosebumps. I feel touched. I personally feel it’s very like myvoice’s real timbre.

The driving forces behind the AI music platform are Taiwan AI Labs founder Ethan Tu, and famous campus singer Li Chien-fu.

Li Chien-fu
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It took way less time and money, because, for example, getting a singer into the studio means you have to pay the singer, pay for the studio. All that is a burden on the creator.

Ethan Tu
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In the past, people were always talking about “deepfakes” which were pirate versions and imitations. But we use the same profit-sharing model, and we tidy up the workflows. We’re telling people this could be the future model of the AI voice economy.

Fake voices abound on the internet already. But a platform like this shows that an official AI voice can beat a pirate version. The project gives artists protections and works with a charity for the visually impaired, and gives more creators a platform to make music.

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More officials have been named to the Lai administration’s Cabinet. Premier-designate Cho Jung-tai announced six appointments, including the ministers of finance and agriculture. The lineup is mostly familiar faces. The one newcomer is Chen Shu-tzu, who will head the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics. Chen had served in the Tainan City government when Lai Ching-te was mayor. She is credited with reducing Tainan’s expenses and expanding its financial resources.

More appointments have been unveiled for Cho Jung-tai’s Cabinet. They’re mostly familiar faces, with the exception of Chen Shu-tzu, who will head the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics. When Lai Ching-te served as Tainan mayor, Chen headed the city’s Research, Development and Evaluation Commission. She turned Tainan from a debt-wracked city to a model for financial management.

Cho Jung-tai
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She helped reduce Tainan’s debt significantly, and set aside a budget for water management. She excels in both saving funds and expanding financial resources. I’m not exaggerating in the slightest.

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Remaining in their current posts will be Minister of Finance Chuang Tsui-yun, Overseas Community Affairs Council Minister Hsu Chia-ching, Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling and Directorate-General of Personnel Administration Director Su Chun-jung. Meanwhile, acting Minister of Agriculture Chen Junne-jih will formally take up the role. Amid criticism over the low proportion of women in previous appointments, four of the six posts announced on Tuesday went to women.

Cho Jung-tai
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I’m relieved that we are announcing several women today. It’s just how the Cabinet is taking shape. We didn’t deliberately arrange to announce the women Cabinet heads today. We’re just following the order that was established previously.

Twenty-seven days remain until Lai’s inauguration. Ministers without portfolio, and positions related to national security, are expected to be announced later this week.

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The Alishan Forest Railway’s Vivid Express pulls into the platform.

Its design is inspired by the plumage of the collared bush robin, a bird commonly found in Alishan. The seats can swivel 360 degrees, so that passengers can soak in the view.

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What we’re going after right now is quality, not quantity. The launch of the Vivid Express marks the beginning of this pursuit of quality.

Due to heavy damage from Typhoon Morakot and Typhoon Dujuan, service on the Alishan Forest Railway has been limited for 15 years. Last year, the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency rebuilt the railway’s Tunnel No. 42, paving the way for a full reopening by July 1 of this year.

In light of a recent string of earthquakes, the railway operator plans to use ground-penetrating radar to monitor the tracks in the future.

Huang Miao-hsiu
Alishan Forest Railway and Cultural Heritage Office head
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A couple gazes lovingly at one another, smiling as they celebrate the beginning of their new lives together.

This five-star hotel is organizing a demonstration wedding day. In total, 40 couples are led through the entire experience from their entrance, to vows and performances.

Wu Chia-ying
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Before the pandemic, hotels would host an average of 250 or more weddings in a year with 30 or 40 tables each. Now they’re smaller, mostly about 15 to 20 tables. They’re more willing to spend on entertainment or food.

Newlyweds
We’ve compared five or six places. As for the quality of the venue, the budget and food, we have to compromise and discuss with our families.

Newlyweds
Maybe about 30 tables for NT$20,000 to NT$25,000 each. We care about whether the interior has been updated and whether the setup is to our expectations.

To appeal better to the tastes of the younger generation, this venue is offering European-style floral arrangements and individual plates rather than banquet food. It has also invited 12 cake, dress and photography businesses for the couples’ convenience.

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At the first meeting I get a lot of contacts of new customers and couples, then follow up with them later. I end up signing contracts with more than 60%.

Tailor
If it’s a Western style wedding, they’ll usually go all-out and get a white wedding gown and an evening dress.

Marriages bounced back to pre-pandemic levels last year with 125,000 couples getting married, creating a market worth an estimated NT$40 billion. This year is expected to be the same or rise by 10%. These kinds of exhibitions are key as the industry prepares for the upcoming peak season.

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Smartphone market updates: Samsung stays level as Huawei hammers Apple

It’s a changeable time in the smartphone industry. Late last year, Apple overtook Samsung as the world’s biggest smartphone supplier. But in the first quarter of this year, that was reversed, with Samsung back in the top spot. New launches from Huawei are having a big impact on the market, primarily taking Chinese custom away from Apple, which has seen huge sales falls so far this year. Meanwhile, Samsung just launched a new AI phone that is drawing lots of attention, while Apple’s latest model won’t be out until September.

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Analysts are not convinced the new AI functions will convince users to trade in their phones for new models. Research from market analytics firm IDC showed that 289 million new smartphones were shipped in the first quarter of 2024, a growth of 7.8% from the same period last year.

Samsung has come back to the top spot, holding 20.8% of the market. The new flagship and flip phones from Huawei last year were a blow for Apple, which now occupies just 17.3% of the market. In at No. 3 is Xiaomi with 14.1%.

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