A company tour group from Malaysia arrives in Taiwan bringing 1,000 travelers

A company tour group from Malaysia arrives in Taiwan bringing 1,000 travelers

2025-04-21

A 1,000-member company tour group – the largest to visit Taiwan since before the pandemic – arrived in Taiwan on the weekend from Malaysia. The group, which is made up of employees of Malaysian life insurance company Great Eastern, is to stay in Taiwan for five days, and will visit tourist sites throughout Northern Taiwan. According to estimates by the Tourism Administration, the group is expected to generate over NT$50 million in tourism revenue.

Malaysian tourist
Taiwan is the only country I keep wanting to revisit. It feels very welcoming. The people here are warm, and the cultural standards are very high.

Malaysian tourist
The tour guide told us that prayers made at this Yue Lao Temple are usually met. I just went to visit, and if my prayers are really heard, and I find a Taiwanese partner, then maybe I’ll have the chance to stay in Taiwan long-term.

Chang Hui-yan
Tourism operator
When it comes to large-scale company tours to Taiwan, as far as I know, Southeast Asian clients make up a significant portion. Taiwan launched the New Southbound Policy in 2016, and a major reason for that was the convenience of visas and flight availability.

Demand for company tours has been booming post-pandemic. In February, there was an 800-person group from India, and now this 1,000-person Malaysian group has arrived. Groups from the Philippines and Vietnam are expected next, each with around 600 people. The Tourism Administration is actively offering incentives to foreign corporations so as to fill the gaps in off-peak travel seasons outside of the summer and winter holidays.

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

"馬來西亞獎勵團"千人來台觀光商機上看5千萬

2025-04-21

疫後最大的獎勵旅遊團來了！馬來西亞大東方人壽保險保險公司，一千多人，分8梯次來，五天四夜把北台灣，走透透。觀光署粗估，這一團預估可以帶來超過5千萬的觀光商機。

[[馬來西亞獎勵團旅客]]
“臺灣是唯一一個，我來了又想來的國家，很有親切感，而且這裡的人都很熱情，文化素質也很高”

[[馬來西亞獎勵團旅客]]
“導遊就有說這個月老廟是很靈的，我剛剛也有過去，所以希望，如果之後真的顯靈，我真的有找到一個台灣的對象，那我也有機會可以長久的待在臺灣”

[[台灣地接社董事長張惠雁]]
“現在進來臺灣來講的話，大型的獎勵旅遊，據我所知，東南亞的客戶是佔比滿大的，臺灣在2016年開始進行新南向，那其實最大的一個原因就是簽證便利，還有班機”

疫後獎勵團大爆發，2月才有印度團800人，現在又迎來千人馬來西亞團，接下來，還有菲律賓、越南，600人團等著來。觀光署力推境外企業獎勵旅遊補助，填補寒暑假外，旅遊淡季空檔。

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Bands, flag corps and honor guards from 17 schools perform in Taipei

An annual performance of bands, honor guards and flag corps from schools across the country was held on Sunday at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium. Performers from 17 schools across Taiwan took turns to strut their stuff, dazzling the audience with their skills and youthful energy. This year’s event was themed on equality, to coincide with Taiwan’s Gender Equality Education Day.

An annual show featuring marching bands and honor guards kicked off on Sunday, with even the World Masters Games mascot Strong making an appearance at the event. Bands from 17 schools across Taiwan took part, each taking turns demonstrating their unique talents.

Chen Ching-yi
Hsinchu Girls’ Senior High School majorette
Personally, I am looking forward to Chien Kuo High School’s performance, because they have flag bearers and they twirl rifles – which I think is very impressive.

Chih Yi-chen
Shilin High School of Commerce
There are some rifle twirling techniques that novices may not be familiar with. In that case, a practice rifle may allow for more stability. A performance rifle could be used after you master the practice one.

The Minquan Elementary School wind ensemble performed together with a cheerleading squad, presenting a cute and playful performance. Despite their youth, the band members practice hard, and put on an impressive show.

Kao Tien-jui
Minquan Elementary School
On weekends, we have to practice finding our places in the formation. That is, for every formation, we need to connect the picture. Then we put it to music, and present it all together.

The Chien Kuo High School flag corps, which has long shone on the international stage with its orderly marching, will represent Taiwan in the 2025 World Championships for Marching Show Bands, to be held in August in Indonesia.

Chuang Chih-chun
Chien Kuo High School principal
The seniors tell me that when they encounter difficulties in life in the future, they will reflect on their perseverance during hard times in high school. If they could handle such difficulties, what else in life could they not handle?

Shih Chia-cheng
Chenggong High School honor guard coach
They had to strengthen their arms so that they could throw the gun higher and twirl it more steadily. They also run to increase their cardiopulmonary capacity, and so on. In fact, going through a whole performance is quite physically demanding.

Seizing the opportunity for exchange, the bands and flag corps of each school put on their best performances, while enjoying the show put on by others.

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Sun to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
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Kaohsiung residents come out to support onigiri shop owners harassed by landlady

A couple that runs a Japanese rice ball shop in Kaohsiung was recently harassed by their landlady, who purportedly was made jealous by their shop’s business success and wanted to cancel the rental agreement. On one occasion, she went to the shop and destroyed some of the furniture. On Sunday morning, many local residents turned out at their shop to show support. The female shop owner said her husband, a 60-year-old Japanese man, was in tears and that he didn’t expect everyone to be so compassionate.

Some people came to cheer on the owner, while others came to show support by making a purchase. They all came to rally behind the Japanese owner of this shop that makes onigiri, or rice balls. The owners saw their furniture and potted plants smashed up by their landlady.

Supporter
The landlady crossed the line, so I came here to support the Japanese owner.

Supporter
The Japanese owner must have felt pretty helpless when he encountered this problem.

The landlady of this Japanese rice ball shop in Kaohsiung’s Gushan District was purportedly jealous of the shop’s good business and wanted to cancel the rental agreement and take back the store. She quarreled with the store owner many times, constantly harassing him with various accusations. On one occasion, she even smashed the flower pots and furniture in front of the store. The rice ball shop owner had had enough and was planning to move. When word got out, members of the public came out to buy his rice balls to show support.

Supporter
We Taiwanese are very kind. People say that the most beautiful scenery in Taiwan is the people, and that would be the Taiwanese people.

Support
It’s OK. Maybe the next place will be better.

Chang Mei-chuan
Rice ball shop owner
We have been making rice balls and haven’t taken a break yet. Last night my husband was reading the messages people left us, and he was in tears. He didn’t expect everyone to be so compassionate.

In response to this outpouring of sympathy, the shop’s owner, Mr. Higuchi, held up a sign to thank people for their support. The owner and his wife opened the store in Kaohsiung in February last year. After a strong typhoon, the husband held up a sign that read "Hang in there, Kaohsiung!" to cheer on their disaster-struck city. Despite their landlady’s harassment, they felt warmed seeing many fellow residents come out to support them with their wallets.

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Yunlin police officer returns generosity by raising money for family center

This is someone with a truly kind heart. When police officer Chen Chih-ming was a boy, he made it through tough times with help from a family support center. After he passed the police exam and joined Yunlin’s Huwei precinct, he wanted to return the favor. So he collects household items for sale and donates all the proceeds to the center to help other kids in need, paying forward the kindness he received all those years ago.

40-year-old Chen Chih-ming works as a police officer at Huwei precinct in Yunlin. When he was younger, a local family support center helped him as he prepared for the exam. Now he not only looks out for the public, but also sells items online to support the center.

Chen started a group that sells items like kitchen utensils for $50 or $100 apiece. Every dollar he earns comes from caring members of his community.

Chen Chih-ming
Huwei precinct police officer
I received help from people before. How could I not do something in return? But as a police officer, I can’t take on any side jobs. One day, I had the idea to gather items from people, whether new or secondhand. After selling them for money, I could regularly make donations to the center.

Chen and his sister spent most of their childhood at the center. Class time and camp were what he looked forward to the most, where he learned many skills and was exposed to different things and people. It was also where he developed a lifelong penchant for social work.

Chen’s father passed away when he was five years old, leaving his mother to support the family on her meager textile factory salary. The center helped them through the toughest times. After graduating from high school, Chen passed the exams to become a social worker and police officer. He ultimately chose to pursue police work.

Chen Chih-ming
Huwei precinct police officer
We had prepared for the college entrance exam, but I also took the police exam. I passed it, and the same year also passed the exam for social work. I figured that police have some authority. At the time, I thought it would allow me to do more.

Chen returned to his hometown to work as a police officer. During the day he works hard at his job. Some cases he’s even been following for six months, keeping in touch with the people involved and even becoming their friend. To many he’s not just a police officer. He’s their protector.

Chen Chih-ming
Huwei precinct police officer
We really receive a lot of domestic violence reports. Some of the time, if you talk with them a bit more, they’ll be moved by what you say. Or they’ll take it in after a few days and it’ll help them open up.

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#charity #philanthropy #policeofficer #Huwei #Yunlin #familysupportcenter #payitfoward

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Blooming longan boosts honey harvest 30% from last year

Spurred bythe low temperatures broughtby cold fronts this winter,the flowers have begun to bloom. Longan blossoms are flourishing, meaning a rare bumper harvest for longan honey. Following the beekeepers, we went to the mountainous areas of Tainan, where the beehives are bursting. Compared to last year, the harvest is up 20 to 30%, assuaging beekeepers’ worries.

Swarms of bees take to the sky as soon as the hive is opened. Thanks to this winter’s cold fronts, the longan flowers are in full bloom. This also means a rare bumper harvest for longan honey.

Lin Jui-ying
Beekeeper
In the over 30 years I’ve kept bees, I’ve never seen so many blossoms. It hasn’t even rained.

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Longgang Rice Noodle Festival offers rich cultural experiences

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Marching ahead with music, Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-cheng and the troupe performs a water splashing ritual, bringing blessings to revelers. The annual Taoyuan Longgang Rice Noodle Festival, now in its 15th year, officially kicked off on the 19th.

Chang San-cheng
Taoyuan mayor
Just now we’ve performed a water splashing ritual for blessings and to kick off the rice noodle festival. What’s special about this edition is that we’ve also invited many international dignitaries stationed in Taiwan. As in the past, they’re also here to enjoy the delicacies.

The theme this year is to welcome blessings for peace and prosperity. Apart from water splashing, other festivities of ethnic peoples living on the border between southwest China and northern South East Asia can also be experienced, such as the Torch Festival celebrations of the Yi people and open-air banquets of the Hani people. Following the recent Myanmar Earthquake, blessings were also offered for affected regions. Donations can also be made for rebuilding efforts.

Chang San-cheng
Taoyuan mayor
Taoyuan is not only a multicultural city. It’s also a city that’s very active in fostering international friendships. We also hope that the Longgang Rice Noodle Festival can continue to be promoted.

Apart from ethnic delicacies, visitors can also participate in walking tours, try out handicrafts and traditional clothing, and more with 60-plus local vendors. The rich culture of southwest China and northern South East Asia can be experienced right here in Taiwan, until the 27th.

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#culture #Taoyuan #songkran #Yunnan #Myanmar #龍岡米干節 #桃園

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