Going solo: how China’s backpackers are boosting hidden parts of Taiwan’s economy
Exploring foreign lands as part of an organised tour has its advantages. A set itinerary of excursions, meals and hotel stopovers means you don’t have to waste precious sightseeing time on planning your next move.
But for mainland Chinese tourists heading to Taiwan, the traditional group tour has been losing its appeal.
The attractions they visit aren’t the same as where group tourists go. They’re more spread out and can freely go to all these places without the restrictions of schedules
A growing number of adventurous mainland travellers are jetting off to the island on their own instead of as part of a package deal. And that has brought unexpected benefits to the island’s economy, particularly the more obscure parts of the hospitality and services sectors.
Their independence from a restrictive schedule planned by a tour operator leaves these solo holidaymakers free to get off the beaten track and pump their cash into parts of the island’s economy that locals might bypass.
Instead of getting around on organised coach excursions, they will tend to use public transport; they will eat in lesser-known restaurants serving exotic local cuisine they cannot find at home; they will shy away from luxury accommodation, favouring instead the charm of a boutique hotel or even the gritty experience of a hostel; they are more likely to explore the back alleyways or search for trinkets among the stalls of a dusty street market; and, of course, they will often be drawn to the less famous landmarks.
