One year after the strongest earthquake to hit Taiwan in more than two decades devastated lives and livelihoods across the east coast, TaiwanPlus revisits businesses in Hualien, once a top tourist attraction, to see how they’re coping with the lasting effects the quake has had on their income.
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00:00A traditional true-coup welcome for visitors to this indigenous activity center and restaurant
00:12in eastern Taiwan. But right now, visitors are few and far between. Despite being near some of
00:22the country's top tourist attractions, Dajili Tribal House has been starved of income since
00:27a deadly 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck here a year ago. It devastated lives and businesses
00:34all along the coast. And this center's proprietor, Sukin Kiyosi, says there is still a ways to
00:39go before business returns to normal.
00:42It's a story repeated across Hualien.
00:57Home to some of Taiwan's most stunning scenery. Strongly dependent on tourism, everyone here
01:04is feeling the pinch. From restaurants to cafes, hotels to market vendors.
01:09Dongdanmen night market is usually flooded with tourists. But now, many of the vendors
01:14here have shut up shop. And those that remain are surviving on a fraction of the income.
01:23And fears of blocked roads are not unfounded. Taiwan is prone to earthquakes and typhoons, and those
01:42have caused landslides in this area known for its geological marvels. Much of this national
01:48park remains inaccessible since last year's quake, and there are no signs of when it will re-open.
01:53Hualien's tourism bureau is keen to point out that there's more to Hualien than just Taroko Park. The central and local governments have tried stimulating visits through subsidized stays and benefit concerts, but with limited success.
01:55Hualien's tourism bureau is keen to point out that there's more to Hualien than just Taroko Park.
02:02Hualien's tourism bureau is keen to point out that there's more to Hualien than just Taroko Park. The central and local governments have tried stimulating visits through subsidized stays and benefit concerts, but with limited success.
02:14figures from the bureau say the industry has only recovered by about 30 to 40 percent. But there's a concerted effort to try new methods to get people back.
02:27Hualien's tourism bureau is experienced as part of Hualien's tourism industry.
02:50Feeling like they have to fend for themselves, business owners like Kyosi are doing what
02:58they can to diversify. The loss of visitor confidence in the county, leaving many here
03:04out of pocket and some running out of time. Chris Ma, Jeffrey Chen and Rhys Ayers in Hualien
03:10for Taiwan Plus.