Excerpted from the Taipei Times Jul 11, 2010:
When Justin Li, a bank worker in Taipei, attended Club Jump’s annual Christmas Eve bash a couple of years back, he was stunned by what he heard through the cacophony of music and gay male partygoers.
“Whether I was at the bar for a drink or lining up to use the washroom, all I could hear was people speaking English.” Gazing at the sprawling dance floor and its undulating sweaty bodies, he realized Taipei’s gay scene was in the midst of significant change.
Since the second half of the last decade, Taipei’s gay community has witnessed an influx of gay tourists from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Australia descending upon it for holiday, elevating the city’s status from the gay capital of Taiwan to a top gay destination for all of Asia.
While no official numbers exist, a recent survey by Fridae, an online gay media and services company, reveals a growing interest in Taipei among regional gay travelers.
According to unpublished data from its 2010 Asia Internet MSM (men who have sex with men) Sex Survey of almost 15,000 gay men, 9 percent had traveled to Taiwan in the past six months alone.
“Taiwan is increasingly a destination of choice for the discerning gay traveler because of its profile as a progressive society which embraces diversity,” says Fridae CEO Stuart Koe (古志耀). “News about Taiwan’s gay-friendly government and policies has been reported widely by Fridae and other international media, and the Internet has contributed to an increased awareness of the vibrancy of Taiwan’s gay community amongst affluent gay travelers in the region.”
Looking to bank on Taipei’s heightening popularity, the Australian company Formosa Travel and Holiday has released a 20-page Taipei Gay and Lesbian Travel Guide on the Internet, extolling the nightlife scene, gay-friendly accommodations and top citywide tourist sites.
“Taipei is a rising star for gay and lesbian travel,” says general manager Michael Lee. “A lot of gay people in Australia don’t know about Taipei. They would rather go to London or Europe. We are the only travel company in the country which has put out a gay and lesbian travel guide to Taipei and since its release in February, we have received well over 100 inquiries.”
读者回应
Wow, I never knew I was a "discerning gay traveler" whatever the hell that is.
All of the progress, if anything substantial, has come from the glbt community themselves.
Now that the economy has languished for so long partly owing to dirty het politics, the hets have eyed the pink money and thought maybe it's good to bring more customers in to boost tourism and save the country's economy. Without sharing with their homo countrymen preferably.
So dear glbt brothers and sisters, when you visit this island, try to spend your money at glbt venues more.
All the money gone to the government and het venues will be in their purse and never return to the local glbt community, not to mention you, darling.
The Red House is the heaven and is happening every nights.
I wish i can plan the next trip soon...
Taipei- great city with great food,, happening places, night markets
(you MUST sample Shih-Lin), friendly people, gorgeous girls, interesting fusion of Aboriginal + Chinese heritage, art & civilisation,etc....what's not to like? Well, I was initially drawn to this beautiful, exotic island-paradise that's Taiwan/Formosa...and in many ways that reputation is justified. Sadly, however, it's not without its dark sides...as some posters above mentioned, and then some...
I do not wish to repeat them.
My conclusion : Taipei/Taiwan is a great place to visit...bt do go in with yr eyes wide open ...and see the so-called 'gay ' industry for what they really are - cash cows keeping the economy afloat in times of 'crisis' till recovery, after which they can do away with all that
"I-love-gays-they-are-so-cute" pretence. Pardon me if I offended anyone, bt I've traveled & lived in Taiwn, so here's just sharing my experience.
i am working for travel agent in Hai Phong city,Viet Nam where there is well-known Cat Ba island near Ha Long.If you all care ,you can send your booking to me at levanthanh@dulichrongviet.vn
Please. please, please - it will be great if fridae can follow this up, or anyone from Taiwan can post the date/s. Thanks so much.
going back there again this year!
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