Following the Hualien earthquake on April 3, the Transportation Ministry announced in a press release that it will invest NT$5.3 billion ($163.1 million) to rebuild and repair transportation and tourist facilities, provide housing for disaster victims, and revitalize the tourism industry to aid Hualien's recovery.
Nearly NT$4 billion (US$123 million) will be invested in rail and road systems, including improvements to highways such as the Huadong Valley, the Suhua Highway, and the western section of Provincial Highway 8. Some projects also involve seismic forecasting systems for trains, track repairs, and landslide prevention.
Regarding housing, the ministry will subsidize lodging for affected households identified in the Hualien County Government's list of tourism and accommodation industries. Tourist accommodations and independent travelers staying in qualifying accommodations in Hualien and Taitung may receive subsidies as well.
To promote tourism, the Tourism Administration will invest over NT$1.3 billion (close to US$40 million), offering financing guarantees for accommodation businesses, discounts for independent travelers, group travel subsidies, and various other incentives. Additionally, the administration will cooperate with Taiwan Railway to offer travel passes and expand tourist shuttle and bus services.
