You Si-kun: The tourism industry of Suao and Yonaguni is full of potential when direct ferry service is provided.
After concluding his familiarization (FAM) trip from Suao to Yonaguni by direct ferry service to promote tourism of both sides today, President You along with the delegation led by Japan-R.O.C. Diet Members’ Consultative Association Chairman Keiji Furuya, Yilan County Magistrate Lin Zi-miao, legislators and tourism industry businesses participated in the dinner banquet.
In her remarks, Yilan County Magistrate Lin Zi-miao welcomed all to Yilan. She stated that Yilan was honored to have their presence. She thanked President You for caring about the development of Yilan and led the the delegation to Yonaguni Island to promote tourism, prosperity and create business opportunities. It only takes two hours to take ferry from Suao to Yonaguni and they had a successful visit that day. She hoped that in the future when Yilan can work together with its counterpart to promote tourism of both Taiwan and Japan.
President You stated that he wanted to express his appreciation and respect to all agencies and staffers for making this trip possible, especially to Shin Kong Group Chairman Wu Tung-ching for providing medical staffers with the trip and Yilan County Magistrate Lin Zi-miao. He then shared his thoughts on the trip. First of all, the ice-breaking direct ferry trip was successful. Second, this trip was about promoting parliamentary diplomacy. When he welcomed the delegation led by Chairman Furuya last year to have a distant look from Suao to Yonaguni Island, Chairman Furuya also participated in the National Day parade. Today he even waited in Yonaguni to welcome him and the delegation and returned to Taiwan by the ferry with everyone. Undoubtedly, this was a successful parliamentary diplomacy. Third, the trip was very smooth. He will continue to follow up the development. Most of the tourism businesses are optimistic about the route and believed that it will be full of business opportunities as long as infrastructure is further strengthened. President You Stated that as a matter of fact, a lot of his friends are interested in visiting and investing in Yonaguni. From this perspective, this program is full of potential. President You concluded his remarks by welcoming everyone to visit Suao of Yilan County to further promote Yilan’s local tourism.
Chairman Keiji Furuya stated that he was grateful for the warm hospitality accorded to him on October 9 last year, and for the wonderful dinner banquet hosted by Yilan County Magistrate Lin Zi-miao. He was also thankful for the legislators and Shin Kong Group Chairman Wu Tung-ching for providing medical staffers. He was pleased to see the promise that he had with President You to have a distant look of Taiwan from Yonaguni last year was realized within a few months. There are only 111 kilometers apart from each other. Undoubtedly, there are still many countries that are closer to each other than this distance, but with a very divided and distant heart. On the contrary, Taiwan and Japan are close to each other mentally or geographically. He believed that future reliance and friendship will be further consolidated. During the pandemic, Taiwan and Japan provided with each other with vaccines and masks. Both countries are the reflection of the friends in need are true friends indeed. Mutual assistance and cooperation in difficult times are very cordial relations. He continued to mention that it took only four hours to have a round trip, showing that this route is full of tourism potential. Of course, there are issues to be settled, such as harbor and hotel. Therefore, he hoped that businesses of both sides can cooperate to boost tourism. He continued to state that he enjoyed scuba diving when he was young and he also has the professional license. He just learned on the ferry that there are nearly 300,000 Taiwanese people enjoying scuba diving. Therefore, he wanted to recommend Yonaguni Island, Ishigaki Island and Iriomote Island to the friends of Taiwan. He hoped that the people of Taiwan will enjoy scuba diving in these places and hope that the tourism of both Taiwan and Japan will be further enhanced.
When the Tourism Administration Director General Chang Shi-chung delivered his remarks, he opened his remarks by congratulating the success of this FAM trip. He thanked all officials and staffers for making this trip possible. He was worried that there would not have enough feedback. To his surprise, the trip was warmly received. He also thanked Chairman Keiji Furuya for downgrading COVID-19 pandemic to the same level with that of influenza. After this move, when he led a delegation of Taiwan tour operators to Japan, Chairman Furuya provided staunch support to him. He continued to state that indeed Taiwan and Japan are very close mentally and geographically. Yonaguni Island has many advantages, such as very suitable for small groups and outdoor activities with clear and beautiful ocean. During this FAM trip, many legislators and tour operators had uploaded their photos in social media and had attracted a lot of attention. As President You stated that seize the opportunity. He believed that there will be more Taiwanese people interested in visiting Yonaguni. Therefore, he urged the tour operators to increase promotion ad to have discussions with Yonaguni. He hoped that this direct ferry route will extend from Suao, Yilan and even to Taiwan to further boost Taiwan’s tourism.
The banquet concluded at 9 p.m. after President You and Yilan County Magistrate Lin exchanged gifts with Japanese delegation members and after the performance of Lan Yang Taiwanese Opera. (E)
