On July 17, 2025, the Taiwan Ecotourism Regional Revitalization Alliance (TERRA) hosted the Liugui Mountain Life Travel Industry Matchmaking Tour, giving focus to sustainability experiences and practical applications. Seven travel agencies from northern, central, and southern Taiwan were invited to visit some of Liugui’s iconic cultural and ecological locations and explore the tourism potential. The organizers also invited the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) carbon inventory team to conduct carbon inventory research and carbon footprint calculations. A full-day itinerary was scheduled with guides providing the visitors with a thorough understanding of the region’s unique tourism resources.
Professor Mei-hui Chen, who is part of NPUST’s USR Satoyama Economies Team stated that the Liugui Ecotourism Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) has accumulated 20 years of experience in the area of product and services provision. It also has the necessary resources to connect with the market and establish a viable business model. They look forward to collaborating with travel agencies on their ecotourism projects, so that they can provide domestic and international visitors with rich encounters with rural mountain life and create more possibilities for domestic tourism. Local communities must also strengthen their efforts to attract target audiences by continuously optimizing their itineraries and products while working to preserve ecological and cultural assets.
Professor Mei-hui Chen also pointed out that the Liugui Ecotourism DMO embraces sustainable tourism and local revitalization and caters to the needs of corporate ESG initiatives, outdoor education, public sector delegations, and inbound international tour groups. By addressing various national policies, SDGs, and the net-zero carbon emissions, travel can be more than just a relaxing experience; it can also be a concrete step towards sustainable living.
