Top spots proposed for TV show

Top spots proposed for TV show

ROMANTIC GETAWAY: The Northeast Coast has become a `must-see' destination for Hong Kong couples visiting Taiwan to get pre-wedding glamour photos taken
By Shelley Shan
STAFF REPORTER
Sunday, Apr 08, 2007, Page 2

Kenting, the Love River in Kaohsiung and the Shin Kong Chao Feng Ranch and Resort in Hualien have been voted as the top three possible settings for a romantic television series that will help promote Taiwan to the world, the nation's tourism bureau said yesterday.

The bureau launched an online survey in February to select an ideal setting for a romantic series called Wish to See You in Taiwan, which will be financed by the tourism bureau and will feature popular boy band F4.

The bureau, as the sole financer, has decided the TV series will be a romantic comedy featuring scenic spots that effectively promote Taiwan's characteristics.

The survey ended on the 15th of last month with hundreds of responses from domestic and overseas participants.

The survey attracted more than 450,000 visitors to its Web site and 648 proposed scenic spots.

In addition to the top three spots, some suggested that the settings include night markets, which would give viewers of the show a glimpse of tasty local foods.

Anping Tree House in Tainan County and some coffee houses known for their unusual interior design were also on the list of favorites.

Fans of F4 have also submitted ideas to the TV program's designers.

A Japanese woman wrote in an e-mail that she had fallen in love with Taiwan because of F4 and had since visited the country repeatedly. Like many tourists, she visited Taipei 101 and Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. However, she recommended using Longshan Temple as a setting in the TV series, noting that the temple is designated as a top-rated national historical site. The devoted F4 fan said she had visited the temple on each of her trips to Taiwan.

Meanwhile, the bureau's campaign to attract more international tourists by promoting niche tourism, which lets tourists explore one particular aspect of a country, has proven effective. It noted this week that the nation's Northeast Coast had become a popular destination for couples engaged to be married.

A statement from the bureau's national scenic area administration in the northeast coast said that approximately 200 couples came to Taiwan from Hong Kong each month to have pre-wedding photos taken. Most of the couples said the Northeast Coast was a must-visit destination.

Around the coastal area, Yeliou Park, Laumei Park and Juming Museum are among the most popular sites for wedding photos.

"They [couples from Hong Kong] come because Taiwan offers quality wedding photos and plenty of beautiful scenery as a backdrop. And the service is delivered efficiently and at a relatively reasonable price," the statement said.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/04/08/2003355722