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The theme of this symposium, “Charms of An International Slow City”, aims to promote the concept of free and easy travel in Miaoli for group tours in the hope of increasing the visibility of Miaoli. The Sanyi and Nanzhuang Township of Miaoli were both awarded the “Certificate of International Slow City” in 2016, becoming the only county in the city to receive a “Double Slow City” certification. On top of that, "Taiwan's first railway bicycle", which promises an environmental friendly mode of travel with it’s low level of carbon emission allows visitors to leisurely experience and fall in love with the beauty of Sanyi City through the exploration of the old mountainous range which overlikes the city centre.
The annual Tung Tree Flower festival, wood carvings, hot springs, famous local products, pottery art, Hakka cuisine, etc. are part of the rich and diverse culture of Miaoli that attracts visitors from the international and domestic travel scenes. There is more to it than meets the eye. Other than the rich cultural experience, the sights of Miaoli is not to be forgotten. The top five sightseeing locations include "Sanyi Wood Carving and Old Mountain Line", "Great Lake Strawberry Culture Park", "Taian Hot Spring", "Mingyu Reservoir Scenic Area" and the "Nanzhuang Lion's Head Mountain Scenic Area".
Located between Taichung International Airport and Taoyuan International airport, Miaoli county is easily accessible through the different modes of transportation methods. The availability of these convenient options not only allows tourists to have a choice of their preferred mode of transportation but also reduces traveling time. One can arrive in Taiwan by air and transfer to the high speed train or simply hop on to the conventional railway train or free shuttle service available for visitors keen on a Miaoli exploration journey.
In addition to introducing Miaoli as a tourist destination to Malaysia, the representative team of Miaoli met up with the Malaysian Tourism Association (MATTA) on the 8th of October for a discussion on the current trends and development of the tourism industry as well as the potential market for Muslim travel. To be in line with the Taiwanese government's southward initiative to boost the tourism market, the government of the local county government along with the key players of the tourism industry of Miaoli aims to actively seek tourists from the Muslim travel market. For instance, The Mian Lie Resort and the Flying Cow Ranch, who are part of the contingent for this symposium, adhered to strict legislations to obtain a Muslim Friendly Meal (MFT) certification to become a Muslim Friendly Restaurant (MFR). In March 2018, The West Lake Resort successfully attained a 4-Star certification for the Muslim Friendship Hotel (MFHRS) from the Islamic University of Malaysia and that has helped to make great efforts in promoting Miaoli to the Muslim market.
Through this series of discussions, the representatives from both countries, hope to tap into emerging markets of South East Asia and develop programs and initiatives to grow the visitor numbers. On 9th October, the Malaysian Chinese Tourism signed a memorandum with the local county government of Miaoli aimed at working in unison to build the identified segments through the development of suitable products, tour packages and sales channels to raise the level of awareness of this quaint county. On an ending note, the representatives beckons travel enthusiasts of Malaysia to visit this charming metropolis of Taiwan, and enjoy the beauty and humanity of this Hakka Mountain City through a vacation at the Miaoli County.