Taiwan is somewhat off the beaten tourist path. Most Westerners here are here to work; most tourists here are from Japan, Hong Kong and Korea, with a smattering from mainland China.
Taiwan has long been struggling with what to do to improve tourism. They've made some positive steps, such as allowing a 30-day visa-free stay to citizens of the major developed countries; they've improved the travel infrastructure, with the addition of Taipei's subway and the High Speed Rail; and Taiwan is a cleaner place than it was 18 years ago when I first visited - less garbage and air pollution. But it has a long way to go.
One main problem is the way Taiwan goes about promoting tourism to the West. They have trouble seeing things from the perspective of the Westerner, instead limiting their vision to what appeals to Taiwanese and Chinese.
Examples:
They promote "local specialties" too much, often to the exclusion of other points of interest. "This town is famous for its bull testicles - a long-standing tradition whose history has been traced back to its origins over five whole years ago (ever since the government encouraged each town to develop a specialty). During your visit here, be sure to stop by at Chen's House o' Balls and sample their famous dish, bull testicles simmered tenderly in squid ink. (By the way, there's bugger all else to see or do here - the only reason to come here is because it's famous for this dish.)"
They promote areas as being ideal destinations for wedding photography trips - something not part of Western culture. "The blue-and-white-painted wind generators give the area a Mediterranean feel - a perfect backdrop for your wedding photos."
They promote places that have been ruined by industry. "This area was once famous for its picturesque country lanes shaded with camphor trees and cascading Bougainvillea. Now it's home to the Sixth Naphtha Cracker Plant. Pictured below are its famed smokestacks. And while here, take time to admire the trees in the area, some of which are DECADES OLD!"
Their promotion of traditional culture leaves much to be desired. An exhibition of something billed as "traditional Aboriginal dance" may be accompanied by the thumping beat of synthesizer music while obviously Han Chinese dancers perform hyped-up gyrations while wearing Aboriginal costumes in Day-Glo hues. All the while, they will be emceed by a hip youngster grinning like the folks from Up With People while she forcefully urges audience participation.
Taiwan also suffers a bit from Singapore Syndrome: tearing down all the classic old buildings and quaint atmospheric neighborhoods to build highrises and ultramodern office buildings. We Westerners like cool, old, historic stuff.
Taiwan needs to promote its mountains (esp. hiking and camping), beaches, historical buildings, hot springs, islands - things that appeal to Westerners. It can also promote itself as a crossroads between Northeast and Southeast Asia: from here you can proceed south to the Philippines, then Sabah, and toward Singapore and/or Indonesia; or north to Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and China.
Taiwan, you need to think outside the xiangzi.
