Dengue Fever Epidemic Takes Toll on Taiwan Tourism, 80% Tourists Cancelled Plans

Taiwan has reported a record 8,677 dengue fever cases since May, 2015. On Friday, September 11, 2015, 617 new cases were reported, breaking the record for highest daily increase in cases, reported the island's health authorities. More than 80% of tourists planning to travel to Taiwan's Tainan have cancelled their trips over fears of a dengue fever epidemic in the city, suggested the local sightseeing association.

Dengue-related deaths have risen to 44 out of which 18 cases were confirmed to be caused by the disease, while the remaining 26 cases are still under investigation. Tainan is a popular tourist destination for camping and outdoor education. Several schools from Yunlin county and Changhua county have also cancelled their camping activities scheduled in October, 2015.

The city's Tsou-Ma-Lai Farm, a popular recreational agriculture site, has also received nearly 5,000 cancellations or postponement requests so far. Even the city's primary and middle schools have chosen to move outdoor activities inside or to other cities from September to November, 2015, due to pressure from parents, dealing another huge blow to the city's tourism industry.

The city government and related departments have convened a meeting to come up with ways to save the tourism industry. But no concrete measures have been announced so far.

Source: IANS