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Kaohsiung Bravo! Post-pandemic Kaohsiung International Tourism Makes a Great Leap Forward: 4 Sister Cities Gather for Lotus Pond Lantern Festival
Post date:2023-02-07
Update:2023-04-24
Viewing Count 396
The "2023 Kaohsiung Lotus Pond Lantern Festival" hosted by the Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau came to a successful conclusion on the 5th. The spectacular lantern displays, light shows, and various energetic, traditional Taiwanese performances attracted more than 2 million domestic and international visitors, generating over 3 billion dollars in tourism revenue and boosting Kaohsiung's tourism and city diplomacy in the post-pandemic era. Tourism Bureau Director Minlin Kao stated that, to actively promote post-pandemic tourism to international travelers, representatives from sister cities and friendly partner cities, including the American Institute in Taiwan Kaohsiung Branch, Portland (USA), Kumamoto Prefecture and City (Japan), and Suwon (South Korea), were invited to celebrate the Festival with us. Through guided tours, dazzling lantern displays, and on-site performances, visiting foreign guests were amazed by the beauty of the Kaohsiung Lantern Festival and the large crowds. In addition to deepening exchanges on event organization and tourism policies, our international guests enthusiastically took photos and videos to share with their loved ones back home, exclaiming "Kaohsiung Bravo" and adding a new chapter to Kaohsiung's international city diplomacy.
Director Kao also expressed that the Kaohsiung Lotus Pond Lantern Festival was delighted to welcome long-lost friends from sister cities and friendly cities. In the Zuoying Lotus Pond area, there are traditional temple architecture, beautiful pond scenery, religious and cultural sites, and historical landmarks. The festival activities, specially designed for the unique landscape of the Lotus Pond, as well as the lantern artworks by local Kaohsiung artists, allowed visiting guests to appreciate the charm of Kaohsiung's local features and culture, showcasing "the more local, the more global" impression. Kao personally presented the cute "Kaohsiung Meet Rabbit" lantern to the guests and expressed her hope for closer international tourism exchanges after the pandemic to attract more international travelers to Kaohsiung through city diplomacy. Moreover, the Tourism Bureau invited well-known influencers including Iku (Japan), Remy Gils (France), Joyce (Taiwan), and Cole Fogle (Canada) to the Festival, to shoot videos, and share them online, leveraging the power of the internet to promote Kaohsiung's international tourism at a faster pace.
Chief of AIT Kaohsiung Branch Tom Wong said he was delighted to be invited to the 2023 Kaohsiung Lotus Pond Lantern Festival. The spectacular lantern displays and event planning, such as the large lantern "Transforming Visions of the Future" under the entrance archway of the Lotus Pond, conveyed the pursuit for democracy and freedom by flipping the text. The "Rainbow Rabbit Trail" echoed the gender equality concepts using rainbow colors; the integration of local temples and military dependents' village accommodations communicated the ideas of democracy, freedom, gender equality, and inclusiveness, which are deeply held values shared by the people of the United States and Taiwan. Chi-Chao Chen, President of the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association, and Mya Marie Brazile, Queen of the Portland Rose Festival, were both amazed by the huge main lantern of the event, Machiko, and couldn't stop snapping away with their phones.
In addition to visiting the 2023 Kaohsiung Lotus Pond Lantern Festival during the festival period, the Kumamoto Prefecture delegation visited the Tourism Bureau again on the 6th. Both sides discussed the resumption of direct flights between Kaohsiung and Kumamoto, post-pandemic tourism and mutual promotion. They also exchanged ideas on city marketing, tourism referral, cultural and creative industries, and anime tourism economy, using Machiko (main lantern of the Festival), Hero the Kaohsiung Bear, and Kumamon, as city image ambassadors. Director Akihiro Harayama of the Tourism Strategy Department, Kumamoto Prefecture, said that the Festival marketed Taiwan's traditional lantern festival with diverse creativity and technology, and the fact that it attracted over 2 million visitors with a minimal budget, was an excellent and innovative tourism strategy worth learning for Kumamoto. Both sides had in-depth discussions on tourism and transportation issues. Director Harayama also invited Kaohsiung to visit Kumamoto in the future to continue the international exchanges, mutual tourism, and to strength the Taiwan-Japan friendship.
Leader of the Suwon City delegation, Yong-duk Kim, praised the magnificent crowds at the Lotus Pond Lantern Festival and its nationwide and island-wide first place ranking in online popularity. He further remarked that after several years since his last visit to Kaohsiung, he was excited to see the City's rapid transformation and modernization, especially the impressive Asian New Bay Area, which holds great potential as an international tourist destination. The Suwon City delegation visited the Lotus Pond Lantern Festival, Shoushan Zoo, and Neiwei Arts Center among other places. Members praised Kaohsiung's diverse urban landscape, the convergence of mountains, sea, rivers and harbors, and its convenient transportation, stating that they will recommend Kaohsiung to Korean tourists upon returning to South Korea.
The Tourism Bureau further pointed out that in January, Mayor Teruo Honbo of Minamisatsuma City (Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan), led a delegation to visit Kaohsiung. In addition to exchanging ideas with the Tourism Bureau on sand sculpture festivals, bicycle tourism activities and related supporting plans, they also signed a friendly exchange agreement with the Cijin District Office, taking a significant step towards post-pandemic international tourism in Kaohsiung and fostering Taiwan-Japan friendship. Mayor Honbo stated that upon his first visit to Kaohsiung, he was impressed by the City's fantastic landscape featuring mountains, sea, and a world-class harbor, as well as its modern infrastructure and transportation facilities. He hopes that after signing the cooperation agreement, the mutual exchange between the two regions will be accelerated, allowing more Japanese travelers to get to know the beautiful harbor city of Kaohsiung.
The Kaohsiung City Government is actively strengthening its ties with sister cities and friendly cities in the post-pandemic era, welcoming foreign guests to Kaohsiung to witness its transformation, cultural charm, and warm hospitality. The Tourism Bureau expressed that, as the global pandemic gradually eases and Taiwan's borders reopen, Kaohsiung will continue to actively promote tourism, host large-scale events, and engage in city marketing and advertising to attract international travelers to experience the various tourism activities in Kaohsiung. In the future, Kaohsiung will advance the transformation and upgrade of Kaohsiung International Airport to a smart and low-cost airport to attract international tourists, enhance Kaohsiung's international tourism brand and brand awareness, to be on a par with world-class tourism cities. For more information, please visit the official website of "Kaohsiung Travel" or follow "Kaohsiung Travel" on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with the latest news!
Director Kao also expressed that the Kaohsiung Lotus Pond Lantern Festival was delighted to welcome long-lost friends from sister cities and friendly cities. In the Zuoying Lotus Pond area, there are traditional temple architecture, beautiful pond scenery, religious and cultural sites, and historical landmarks. The festival activities, specially designed for the unique landscape of the Lotus Pond, as well as the lantern artworks by local Kaohsiung artists, allowed visiting guests to appreciate the charm of Kaohsiung's local features and culture, showcasing "the more local, the more global" impression. Kao personally presented the cute "Kaohsiung Meet Rabbit" lantern to the guests and expressed her hope for closer international tourism exchanges after the pandemic to attract more international travelers to Kaohsiung through city diplomacy. Moreover, the Tourism Bureau invited well-known influencers including Iku (Japan), Remy Gils (France), Joyce (Taiwan), and Cole Fogle (Canada) to the Festival, to shoot videos, and share them online, leveraging the power of the internet to promote Kaohsiung's international tourism at a faster pace.
Chief of AIT Kaohsiung Branch Tom Wong said he was delighted to be invited to the 2023 Kaohsiung Lotus Pond Lantern Festival. The spectacular lantern displays and event planning, such as the large lantern "Transforming Visions of the Future" under the entrance archway of the Lotus Pond, conveyed the pursuit for democracy and freedom by flipping the text. The "Rainbow Rabbit Trail" echoed the gender equality concepts using rainbow colors; the integration of local temples and military dependents' village accommodations communicated the ideas of democracy, freedom, gender equality, and inclusiveness, which are deeply held values shared by the people of the United States and Taiwan. Chi-Chao Chen, President of the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association, and Mya Marie Brazile, Queen of the Portland Rose Festival, were both amazed by the huge main lantern of the event, Machiko, and couldn't stop snapping away with their phones.
In addition to visiting the 2023 Kaohsiung Lotus Pond Lantern Festival during the festival period, the Kumamoto Prefecture delegation visited the Tourism Bureau again on the 6th. Both sides discussed the resumption of direct flights between Kaohsiung and Kumamoto, post-pandemic tourism and mutual promotion. They also exchanged ideas on city marketing, tourism referral, cultural and creative industries, and anime tourism economy, using Machiko (main lantern of the Festival), Hero the Kaohsiung Bear, and Kumamon, as city image ambassadors. Director Akihiro Harayama of the Tourism Strategy Department, Kumamoto Prefecture, said that the Festival marketed Taiwan's traditional lantern festival with diverse creativity and technology, and the fact that it attracted over 2 million visitors with a minimal budget, was an excellent and innovative tourism strategy worth learning for Kumamoto. Both sides had in-depth discussions on tourism and transportation issues. Director Harayama also invited Kaohsiung to visit Kumamoto in the future to continue the international exchanges, mutual tourism, and to strength the Taiwan-Japan friendship.
Leader of the Suwon City delegation, Yong-duk Kim, praised the magnificent crowds at the Lotus Pond Lantern Festival and its nationwide and island-wide first place ranking in online popularity. He further remarked that after several years since his last visit to Kaohsiung, he was excited to see the City's rapid transformation and modernization, especially the impressive Asian New Bay Area, which holds great potential as an international tourist destination. The Suwon City delegation visited the Lotus Pond Lantern Festival, Shoushan Zoo, and Neiwei Arts Center among other places. Members praised Kaohsiung's diverse urban landscape, the convergence of mountains, sea, rivers and harbors, and its convenient transportation, stating that they will recommend Kaohsiung to Korean tourists upon returning to South Korea.
The Tourism Bureau further pointed out that in January, Mayor Teruo Honbo of Minamisatsuma City (Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan), led a delegation to visit Kaohsiung. In addition to exchanging ideas with the Tourism Bureau on sand sculpture festivals, bicycle tourism activities and related supporting plans, they also signed a friendly exchange agreement with the Cijin District Office, taking a significant step towards post-pandemic international tourism in Kaohsiung and fostering Taiwan-Japan friendship. Mayor Honbo stated that upon his first visit to Kaohsiung, he was impressed by the City's fantastic landscape featuring mountains, sea, and a world-class harbor, as well as its modern infrastructure and transportation facilities. He hopes that after signing the cooperation agreement, the mutual exchange between the two regions will be accelerated, allowing more Japanese travelers to get to know the beautiful harbor city of Kaohsiung.
The Kaohsiung City Government is actively strengthening its ties with sister cities and friendly cities in the post-pandemic era, welcoming foreign guests to Kaohsiung to witness its transformation, cultural charm, and warm hospitality. The Tourism Bureau expressed that, as the global pandemic gradually eases and Taiwan's borders reopen, Kaohsiung will continue to actively promote tourism, host large-scale events, and engage in city marketing and advertising to attract international travelers to experience the various tourism activities in Kaohsiung. In the future, Kaohsiung will advance the transformation and upgrade of Kaohsiung International Airport to a smart and low-cost airport to attract international tourists, enhance Kaohsiung's international tourism brand and brand awareness, to be on a par with world-class tourism cities. For more information, please visit the official website of "Kaohsiung Travel" or follow "Kaohsiung Travel" on Facebook and Instagram to stay updated with the latest news!
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