Nine entities in Taiwan were honored at the 2024 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories award ceremony held by the Netherlands-based GD Foundation Dec. 11 in Punta Arenas, Chile, underscoring international recognition of the country’s sustainable tourism.

Liu Wan-wen, deputy director of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles’ tourism division, received the prizes on behalf of the government, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Tourism Administration said, adding that this year’s edition marks the country’s best-ever performance.

Making the list were six national parks, one government-run artistic compound, one local government and one hotel, reflecting Taiwan’s remarkable accomplishments in destination management, natural landscape maintenance and cultural heritage preservation, the TA said.

Among the recognized attractions were the North Coast and Guanyinshan National Scenic Area, where regular beach cleanups take place; East Coast National Scenic Area, which promotes regenerative tourism; and Southwest Coast National Scenic Area, where former salt pans provide habitats for birdlife. The unstaffed Footprint Inn in the central county of Nantou earned its spot for its advocating conscious spending.

According to the administration, during the event nongovernmental organization Sustainable Travel Taiwan participated in a seminar on selecting global travel destinations, sharing the achievements of green turtle conservation in outlying Penghu County.

Taiwan’s national scenic areas have long been committed to advancing environmentally responsible tourism, TA Director-General Chou Yung-hui said. The country will continue fostering exchanges with global partners to jointly contribute to the planet’s sustainable development, he concluded.


Source:  Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)