News

    To re-enforce the collaboration of the tourism industry in Nantou and Japan, the Ferry Boat & Yacht Association, Nantou County entered into a treaty of friendship with the Shiga Prefecture Passenger Boats Association of Lake Biwa in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan at the Sun Moon Lake - Ita Thao Harbor on Nov. 26th. The treaty was signed between the Sightseeing Boat Associations from both lakes in the presence of the board director Huang Yu-Yen of the association and representative Kawabe Yoshiyuki on behalf of the president of the Japanese association. Deputy County Mayor Chen Cheng-Sheng, Chief of Yuchih Township Chen Chin-lun, and Deputy Director Chen Chih-Hsien at the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area Administration were the co-witnesses at the signing ceremonies which were simple but grand.

    Deputy County Mayor Chen said that the Lake Biwa is the largest fresh water lake in Japan, which also serves as a landmark of the Japanese spirit. Although the Sun Moon Lake only occupies 8 sq. kilometers, it is small but beautiful, and its lake is clear as crystal with well-equipped facilities in its surroundings. The lake features black tea, ceramic art and culture of the Thao Tribe. It is hoped that this signed treaty of friendship between the Sightseeing Boat Associations from both lakes can start the collaboration between both parties, and attract more Japanese tourists to come to visit Nantou for tourism, and thus industrial development can be promoted.

    President Kawabe said according to statistics provided by the Japan National Tourism Organization, the number of Taiwanese tourists who visited Japan in 2015 was 3.677 million. Yet, more than 1.627 million Japanese tourists had come to Taiwan for travel. They were so grateful that the Taiwanese can travel to Japan and thought that the tourism vendors in Japan should give feedback to Taiwan through specific actions. They came to Nantou to enter into a treaty of friendship via a contact known as the Mizuho Bank. There are 7 vendors from the association that wanted to promote Lake Biwa and introduce the glamor of Taiwan Sun Moon Lake to the outside world at the same time. To enable both lakes to become famous tourist scenic spots between the 2 countries, both parties actively worked on how to make this treaty of friendship possible.

    The event started with the traditional dance of the Thao Tribe with passion. Aside from Kawabe Yoshiyuki the president of the association, Ministry of Business & Director Takaki Ito at Omi Travel of Japan and Associate General Manager at the Taipei Branch of the Bank, Yohei Tada was also present. The Governor of Shiga Prefecture Mikazuki Taizo, Mayor of Moriyama, Kazuhiro Miyamoto and the Mayor of Otsu City, Naomi Koshi who were involved in the event all sent their greetings. After the ritual of signing the treaty of friendship had come to an end, both parties exchanged flags of their associations and souvenirs, and planted trees at the Ita Thao Harbor, which symbolize friendship on both sides, and they took a group photo to keep a record. They also rode on an electric ferry to go on a cruise along the Sun Moon Lake for sightseeing and it looked like a warm scene on site.