TAIPEI: Despite the devastation caused by Typhoon Morakot in parts of southern Taiwan in August, the number of tourist arrivals for that month was up considerably compared with the same month of last year, the Tourism Bureau reported yesterday.

According to Tourism Bureau Director-General Janice Lai, the number of overseas tourists arriving in Taiwan last month reached over 367,000, up by 18 percent year on year.

Lai attributed the growth in part to the 2009 World Games held in late July in Kaohsiung, which saw over 5,000 overseas athletes coming to Taiwan.

In August, tourist arrivals from Hong Kong and Macao increased by 14 percent year on year. In addition, some 78,000 mainland tourists traveled to Taiwan last month, 44,000 of whom arrived as members of group tours, she reported.

The number of tourists from Singapore and Malaysia were also up compared to the previous year's level, with Malaysia posting a 23 percent increase, thanks mainly to the opening of a Taipei-Kuala Lumpur route by the budget airline Air Asia.

Meanwhile, tourist arrivals from the United States in August also rose by 5 precent as the global financial crisis eased its grip, she noted.

Despite Morakot's lashing, Lai went on, major tourist spots in regions such as Kenting in Pingtung county, Sun Moon Lake in Nantou county, and the Chihpen hot spring area in Taitung county have not been affected.

China Daily/CNA

(HK Edition 09/15/2009 page2)