The Taiwan Tourism Bureau held the “Feel Taiwan – Natural. Culture. Discovery.” flash promotion event at the popular South Bay shopping mall, Westfield Valley Fair, last Saturday on November 22. The event successfully attracted a large number of people from different ethnicities to come and experience it, with attendees eagerly lining up for photos, collecting stamps, and receiving small gifts, creating a lively atmosphere.
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco Director David Chih-Hsiang Wu made a speech at the event, introducing Taiwan’s safe and friendly travel environment rich in culture. He emphasized that Northern California is an important market for promoting Taiwanese tourism and hoped that more travelers would include Taiwan in their travel plans to personally experience the warmth and scenery of Taiwan.
Wu also mentioned in an interview that Taiwan offers a variety of charming landscapes, from mountain climbing and hot springs to urban exploration, catering to the needs of travelers. Currently, there are over fifty direct flights between San Francisco and Taipei each week operated by three major airlines, providing convenient travel options.
The event featured a performance by Taiwanese-American cellist Jung-Hsuan Ko, from the San Francisco Opera, playing the classic tunes “Spring Breeze” and “The Moon Represents My Heart.” Ko expressed his joy in sharing Taiwan’s scenery and culture with the community through music, stating that bringing these familiar melodies to everyone was a meaningful experience.
Coinciding with the Thanksgiving shopping rush, the mall was crowded with a large number of people. The Tourism Bureau’s 3D stereoscopic visual art photo wall, featuring visual illusion scenes of Taipei 101 and cycling around the island, became a major highlight. People lined up to take photos and share them on social media, attracting more participants to join the experience.
Monica, a Vietnamese-American resident from Daly City, and her boyfriend Kimball, came to the event after receiving an invitation on Instagram. Monica commented, “The event is interactive and fun. We learned a lot about Taiwan, which was fantastic.” Kimball added, “I really liked the photo area and the small gifts here. The event was fun, entertaining, and effectively showcased the uniqueness of Taiwan.”
Mrs. Zhang, who learned about the event on Facebook, mentioned that she has been in the U.S. for over ten years and returns to Taiwan annually. She said, “When I saw the news, I specifically came here to learn about the latest tourism information in Taiwan. The event was lively and made me very happy.” Mr. Zhang, accompanying her, added, “It’s been a long time since I visited Valley Fair, and I felt that today’s event was fresh, nice, and I really liked this way of promoting Taiwan.”
Supported by multiple airlines, the event not only provided travel products and information consultations but also offered round-trip tickets between San Francisco and Taipei as a grand prize in a draw, encouraging people to actively participate by completing stamp collections. Additionally, the education group introduced Mandarin courses and study abroad programs, allowing participants to deepen their understanding of Taiwan’s educational and cultural characteristics.
The event also introduced the Tourism Bureau’s latest “Transit Stopover Airport Consumption Voucher,” where travelers transiting through Taoyuan International Airport can receive a voucher worth NT$600 for redeeming Taiwan’s specialty foods and souvenirs, allowing passengers to experience Taiwan’s warm flavors before their arrival.
Lisa S. Hsien, Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco Tourism Division, stated that Taiwan combines natural landscapes, culinary culture, and urban charm, making it highly attractive to international travelers. She expressed her delight in reaching out to the South Bay community to showcase Taiwan’s beauty and mentioned plans to promote Taiwan tourism in a more diverse and innovative manner in the future.
The Tourism Office of the Ministry of Transportation located in San Francisco is responsible for promoting tourism in Northern California, the U.S. Northwest, and Western Canada markets. They collaborate with local channels, media, and industry partners for marketing efforts, increasing Taiwan’s visibility internationally and providing the latest travel information and consultation services. For more information on traveling to Taiwan, please visit the official website at eng.taiwan.net.tw. ◇