The highly transmissible Omicron variant poses clear risks that must be managed, but a roadmap for reopening is still needed. The capricious coronavirus is full of unpleasant surprises, the latest being the ultra-transmissible Omicron variant that threatens to upend Taiwan’s mostly COVID-free existence. With around 18,000 total recorded cases and 850 deaths as of mid-January,…
The domestic market is too small to sustain the industry indefinitely, especially in Taipei. The unmistakable sound of birds chirping fills the elevator of the Regent Taipei. The avian audio is part of the hotel’s COVID-induced transformation into an urban resort. Unusual, perhaps, but these are not ordinary times for the tourism sector, and besides,…
While Taiwan’s tourism industry is currently reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, the increasing number of elderly Taiwanese travelers represents untapped growth potential. For Taiwan’s tourism industry, the rapidly aging population presents both challenges and opportunities. Many attractions and accommodations are not adjusted to visitors with physical limitations. On the other hand, the number of people…
By using tactics and technology to avoid overcrowding at popular destinations and involving the input and expertise of local communities, Taiwan can begin to distribute tourist dollars more evenly. The problem exists wherever tourism is a significant industry. During peak seasons, popular destinations look like they might buckle under the weight of visitors. At other…
Two questions appearing on the ballot for Taiwan’s December referendum are expected to put up major barriers to the island’s plans to transform its energy mix if they pass. On December 18, Taiwan citizens will be voting on four referendum proposals: one to ban pork containing ractopamine, one to combine future referendum votes with national…
With new technology and investments, geothermal power could become a viable energy source in Taiwan – as long as regulatory hurdles are overcome. Given Taiwan’s location on the Pacific “ring of fire,” its potential for geothermal energy has long been recognized. With more than 4,000 hot spring sites on the island, there is plenty of…
As Taiwan moves toward its goal of nuclear decommissioning and increasing renewable energy use, it is threatened with an insufficient electricity supply. To fend off what some say is an imminent crisis, Taiwan must accelerate its development of solar and wind power. When President Tsai Ing-wen ran for Taiwan’s top office, one of her signature…
Taiwan’s increasing use of green energy has been advantageous to its economy. As investment in renewables continues to grow, more gains are expected down the line. Renewable energy adoption is quickly becoming a priority for a growing number of businesses and governments. In 2019, assets under management in which institutional investors employed Environmental, Social, and…
Taiwan has a unique opportunity to reinvent itself as a leader in sustainable transformation. But it will take the enlightened involvement and cooperation of business, government, academia, and society to ensure that such a shift benefits all relevant stakeholders. Over the past few years, sustainability and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing have become hot…
Taiwan’s military is set to receive a windfall in the form of a five-year special budget focused on indigenous defense capabilities. Under the Six Core Strategic Industries initiative, the domestic defense supply chain is growing, though foreign technology still plays an integral role. Since early 2020, Chinese military aircraft have regularly intruded into Taiwan’s southwest…
