wfn.org | Taiwan's Aboriginal Villages Seek Survival through Tourism

[Taiwan Church News <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>]

Taiwan Church News 2649, December 8, 2002
Reported by Li Yi-shin. Translated and rewritten by David
Alexander

   In an environment of falling economic prosperity, how can the
church come to the aid of aboriginal families?	One suggestion
has been to lead in the development of a non-polluting
enterprise... tourism!	The Aboriginal Mission Committee of the
Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) and the Rev. Mr. Sing O'lam,
Program Secretary for Aboriginal Mission at the PCT's General
Assembly, hosted a seminar on "Bed and Breakfast Management" on
November 26th in a mountain tourism zone.
   The nationwide conference attracted many aboriginal church
members to three days of meetings.  The Bed & Breakfast concept
was introduced and management methods were given in detail.  Mr.
Peng Der-cheng, from a government run tourism development zone on
Taiwan's East Coast, addressed the meeting on plans for that
region.  Elder Kao Cheng-sheng described the operations of a
national environmental park.  The organizers felt that, with
these and other presentations, theory and practice were well
knitted together.
   Rev. Sing O'lam said, "Bed & Breakfast hostelry is just the
first step in economic development in these areas.  Afterwards
more attention can be paid to the cultural and historical aspects
of life in the aboriginal homelands.  Since each of Taiwan's
Aboriginal tribes has its own distinct culture and beautiful
range, there is a lot of room for development.	People from all
over Taiwan will be able to experience the life of Aborigines."
   Promotion of Bed & Breakfast hostelry is just one step on the
road to cultural preservation.	If this can begin with the
churches, believers can recognize the importance of their
cultural connection and identity.  This can also simplify the
process of cultural uplift.
   Several areas around Taiwan have been set apart for trial runs
of Bed & Breakfast hostels.  The experiments will begin after the
beginning of the year.	The PCT has promised to provide some
consultative services in the areas of management and cultural
interpretation.  It is hope that before long Taiwan's aborigines
will be a distinctive part of the entire tourism package here.

For more information:  Sing O'lam  sing@mail.pct.org.tw

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