The Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications will soon ask for bidders interested in participating in a government-sponsored venture aimed at boosting cultural tourism, it has been announced.

The venture, known as the International Spotlight Project, is intended to help private arts groups and local regions develop their artistic resources and to attract more international tourists.

In accordance with this purpose, the TB will sponsor cultural activities located in six regions in Taiwan. Each winning bidder will be qualified to receive NT$15 million (US$466,000) per year for up to three years.

The winners can use the government money to produce cultural shows and to rent artistic venues. The TB will decide whether to renew the annual funds based on the number of foreign tourists attending these shows, said Lai Li-hsing, deputy director of the International Affairs Division of the TB.

The project is part of the Executive Yuan’s Best of Taiwan Tourism Development Plan.

Several companies have shown an interest in using the money to rent out such venues as the Huashan Cultural Park and the Novel Hall for Performing Arts in Taipei. Some are also interested in leasing large tracts of vacant, undeveloped land as venues for their performances.

Other companies said they plan to offer an entire travel package to tourists. “If we win any of the biddings, we will be able to offer cultural package tours at a more favorable price, which may include tickets to Taiwanese pop music concerts at one of these performance venues, as well as travel arrangements and accommodations,” said the representative of one company.

Only one winning company will be allowed per region, said Lai. But the same group can win the bidding for multiple regions, she added. (TYH-HZW)

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