Janet Chang

Perception of the Authenticity of Atayal Woven Handicrafts in Wulai, Taiwan

ABSTRACT Indigenous cultures have become increasingly important tourism attractions and the production and sale of handicrafts have become one way in which indigenous peoples and tourists of different types interact. This is the situation in Wulai Township in Taipei County, Taiwan, where indigenous culture has become one among a variety of tourism attractions. The main objectives of this study are three-fold: (1) to explore the perceived authenticity of Atayal woven handicrafts among tourists who visit Wulai; (2) to examine whether or not significant differences exist among tourists to Wulai in their perceptions of the authenticity of Atayal woven handicrafts; and (3) to compare the differences in such perceptions between those on package tours and self-arranged visitors. Analyses of a survey of domestic tourists revealed that significant differences in perceptions exist in association with age, education, and place of residence. Package tour visitors responded more positively than self-arranged tourists concerning the authenticity of Atayal woven handicrafts. Means of enhancing the balance between commodification and authenticity of ethnic culture are suggested.

Trends in outbound group package tours in China and Taiwan: A marketing mix perspective

In many Asian economies such as Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, and China, the group package tour (GPT) is one of the main modes of outbound travel. In order to explore the emerging trends, two major outbound travel markets�Taiwan and China�were selected for investigation. In total, 30 in-depth interviews with either General Managers or Presidents of well-known travel agencies were conducted in Taipei and Beijing. The GPTs have a similar pattern for both Taiwanese and Chinese but, interestingly, are at a different stage of development. This information should serve as a valuable reference to Taiwan and China, to destination countries that depend heavily on the Chinese market, and to management teams in relevant travel industries.

Profiling Japanese Tourists Visiting Night Markets in Taiwan

Abstract Night markets have become the most popular tourism attraction for international tourists in Taiwan since 2003. They offer tourists a chance to experience new things and visit different environments when visiting the island. Japan has long been the leading generator of international tourism for Taiwan in terms of numbers and expenditures. Thus, the objective of this research is to profile Japanese tourists based on their novelty-seeking motives in visiting night markets. The 320 Japanese tourists are segmented into three groups: conservative tourists, moderate novelty-seekers and well-planned explorers. Based on the results, implications and recommendations are provided to the tourism authorities, and future research possibilities are also noted.