Since the Typhoon Morakot disaster in 2009, relief efforts in the affected areas have continued. During this time, Chairman Yen noticed that excessive media coverage was deterring tourists from visiting Taitung, severely impacting the local tourism industry and further harming employment opportunities for local residents.
Chairman Yen has always been deeply concerned about the development of Hualien and Taitung. He believes these regions, with their stunning natural landscapes and unique cultural resources, should be developed into Taiwan's backyard for in-depth, leisurely travel. The most crucial task is to actively support the development of high-quality bed and breakfasts to promote a new tourism model.
As of 2010, there are over 1,100 registered bed and breakfasts in Hualien and Taitung, but their quality varies. To attract more international tourists, Chairman Yen has actively advised the government to open direct charter flights to Hualien and Taitung from Hong Kong and Japan. He also organized two "Taitung Bed and Breakfast Workshops" from January 25 to 29 at National Chenggong Commercial and Aquaculture Vocational School (with 65 B&Bs participating) and a "Hualien Bed and Breakfast Workshop" on May 21 at Taiwan Hospitality and Tourism College (with over 100 B&Bs participating). The goal was to enhance the quality of B&Bs, significantly improve the tourism industry in Hualien and Taitung, and prepare for an influx of international tourists once direct charter flights commence.
