Six Months After April Earthquake, Tourists Are Slow To Return to Hualien

Six months after April's 7.2-magnitude earthquake, Hualien's tourism-based economy is still suffering.

Transcript

00:00Whale and dolphin watching are popular activities in Hualien, eastern Taiwan.

00:07But lately, there haven't been many tourists.

00:09Local boat captains say business has done poorly since April, after a major earthquake

00:14struck the region.

00:15Before the earthquake, there were only a few people on the dock, but now it's empty.

00:16Hualien's natural beauty usually draws millions of tourists every year, making up as much

00:37as 70% of its economy.

00:40But after six months of earthquakes and typhoons, the tourism industry here is in trouble.

00:46Walking on the streets of Hualien, you can see many shops and restaurants, like the one

00:49behind me, that have closed their doors as tourism has slowed.

00:53Just across the street, a building that suffered major earthquake damage awaits demolition.

00:58Both are evidence of the physical and economic damage this year's natural disasters have

01:03brought and that the region is still living with.

01:07The earthquake in April measured 7.2 on the Richter scale, the strongest to hit the country

01:12in 25 years.

01:13It left at least 18 people dead and damaged structures across the region.

01:19Repeated landslides cut transportation links and have devastated the region's biggest attraction,

01:25Taroko National Park, which may not be fully reopened for years.

01:29Its lush, green mountainsides now white from collapse.

01:34One of the hardest hit industries, hotels.

01:37Despite millions of U.S. dollars in government-sponsored travel vouchers, incentives, and subsidies,

01:43with some rooms being offered practically free of charge, the occupancy rate in Hualien

01:47has dropped to an all-time low.

01:49Before the earthquake and the typhoon, Hualien's average occupancy rate was about 55%.

01:56But up until now, it's still only about 20%.

02:00So that means we still have a lot of room to work hard.

02:04We can use more ways to attract guests who are willing to come to Hualien.

02:11The central government approved almost 900 million U.S. dollars in post-earthquake reconstruction

02:16and relief funds earlier this year.

02:19But that's done little to help those whose businesses have shut down.

02:23Several business owners and workers now relying on charity to get by.

02:28This restaurant, run by a local organization, is providing jobs for those affected by the quake.

02:49We use charity to help those affected by the quake.

02:54There aren't many people working here.

02:57There are only about three or four people working directly here.

03:05But after the quake, we have 26 charity workers working here.

03:13As both charities and the government try to help Hualien find its footing,

03:17six months after the quake, the foundation of its economy is still off balance.

03:23The damage caused, the most extensive in recent memory, making it difficult to predict how

03:28long it will take for a tourism revival.

03:31Leaving local businesses caught between seeking other options or adjusting to a new normal.

03:38Justin Wu and Chris Gorin for Taiwan Plus.