Climbing Mount Jade to cost foreigners NT$700, but locals just NT$220

[StevenCrook]

Several months ago, Yushan National Park announced on its website that when Paiyun Lodge (排雲山莊) reopens later this year, foreigners will pay NT$700 to stay overnight there, while ROC citizens and foreigners holding ARCs will pay NT$220. Muchaman and I think this is a bad policy, and have been in touch with the national park and the Tourism Bureau about it. I've posted the correspondence here:
http://bradttaiwan.blogspot.com/2012/05 ... which.html

How this ends could be an indication of how serious the government is about tourism. It could end up being a story about a government agency that made a mistake, but thanks to an open society and a degree of efficiency in the government, was able to correct it before any real damage was done. Whatever happens, I'm grateful that I live somewhere where the authorities respond to letters, even when they're written in a non-official language. I wonder whether a letter written in Chinese would get any response from the UK government?

[Ex Animo]

When Muzha Man visits my place, I make him do hard labour building kennel floors or cleaning for at least half a day because he's Canadian, but other friends just come and have a cup of tea. It's my right, and if he wants to keep paying that price, it's not going to stop.

[Super Hans]

I wonder whether a letter written in Chinese would get any response from the UK government?

It would, but it would take a while as with all things in the UK.

Don't forget that the UK is a true multi-ethnic society and in some places in Greater London, even road signs and train station signs are translated into Urdo. Most government offices and all police stations have lines to free 24 hour translation services in most languages.
In Taiwan, there is only really one other language alternative which is English. In the UK, official pamphlets are often translated into about 8 different languages. Then there is the wider provision to allow people to settle in their own ethnic communities like China town and Indian streets.
I doubt if a letter written in Arabic would get a response from the Taiwanese government.

[StevenCrook]

I wonder whether a letter written in Chinese would get any response from the UK government?

It would, but it would take a while as with all things in the UK.

Don't forget that the UK is a true multi-ethnic society and in some places in Greater London, even road signs and train station signs are translated into Urdo. Most government offices and all police stations have lines to free 24 hour translation services in most languages.
In Taiwan, there is only really one other language alternative which is English. In the UK, official pamphlets are often translated into about 8 different languages. Then there is the wider provision to allow people to settle in their own ethnic communities like China town and Indian streets.
I doubt if a letter written in Arabic would get a response from the Taiwanese government.

When I worked in the GIO, foreign staffers (among them speakers of Russian, German and Bahasa) were occasionally asked to help translate and answer incoming letters. Don't know about Arabic.
Taiwan's Department of Health does publish leaflets in languages other than Chinese and English - Vietnamese, Thai, Tagalog being some.

[almas john]

Good work Steve, and thanks for letting us know about it. A real shame - and stupid - if it happens. That kind of thing generates a lot of ill feeling and in this case would only bring in a few extra bucks.

[BigJohn]

They probably based this on the beer-can carting operations they had to undertake after Almas John's last visit!

[urodacus]

Why don't they charge everyone* $1000 per night?

Then they'd actually get more money than it costs to administer the payment.

*except Almas Jon, and Muzha Man. They can pay $2000.

[Icon]

Well, back in the ol country, which is a tourist trap, they always charge more from foreign tourists than locals. The logic, they say, is that they make more. So, to provide a incentive for locals to visit these places, especially during low season -which is like, never- they say they lower the prices. Interestingly, though, some places are only open for foreigners..but that's another story.

And yes, tourists complain a lot... but then they get a discount paying exit taxes. it costs almost 100 usd for locals to cross the border, tourist like 25 usd I think.

When Taiwan becomes a tourist trap and does not care about bad press, then they can charge differently. If they want to attract tourists -which, BTW, as completely empirical evidence, they do seem to be growing, as far as I can see- then no.

[cranky laowai]

Things like this infuriate me. Bless you, Steve and Muzha Man, for trying to do something about the situation.

Perhaps Ma Ying-jeou needs to be reminded of the bad press -- and the black eye -- Taipei received when, as mayor, he proposed a double-pricing system for foreigners supposedly receiving an English-speaking taxi driver. Fortunately, that was withdrawn.

[sandman]

I wonder if any of them tourism bureau guys studied overseas in supposed first-world countries, getting charged up to FOUR TIMES the tuition charged to locals? That would probably colour my judgement.