Commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Taiwan), Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) held the Caribbean and Pacific Region Tourism and Agricultural Products Reception at Grand Hyatt Taipei on November 5, 2020. H.E. Ambassador Jasmine Elise Huggins of Saint Kitts and Nevis, H.E. Ambassador Rachel Coupaud of the Republic of Haiti, H.E. Ambassador Diane C. Haylock of Belize, H.E. Ambassador Limasene Teatu of Tuvalu, H.E. Ambassador Edwin Laurent of Saint Lucia, H.E. Ambassad or Andrea Clare Bowman of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, H.E. Ambassador Jarden Kephas of the Republic of Nauru, Deputy Chief of Mission Anjanette C. Anjel of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Representative Alex Lei of the Palau Visitors Authority of Taiwan were invited to participate in the event.
Many items were displayed, including Caribbean agro-food and Pacific crafts. There was rum from Saint Kitts and Nevis, coffee beans from Haiti, pepper sauce from Belize, sea moss from Saint Lucia, sea salt from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, clamshell from Palau, traditional customs from Tuvalu, kili bag from the Marshall Islands, and stone carving from Nauru.
A letter of intent to promote tourism has been signed onsite by the Taiwan Quality Assurance Association and the Palau Visitors Authority. In addition, six countries have signed on, including Saint Kitts and Nevis, Belize, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, the Grenadines and the Republic of Nauru. Both sides expect to promote mutual collaboration, exchange experiences and share information.
"Most of our diplomatic allies focus on the development of tourism and receive international visitors. It proves that these countries are quite attractive", said Isaac C. Chiu (Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation and Economic Affairs, MOFA). "It's meaningful to promote tourism and agricultural products from Taiwan's diplomatic allies," mentioned by Simon Wang, executive vice president of TAITRA.
Tourism has struggled because of COVID-19. It is believed that the above event can increase the tourism exposure rate with Taiwanese travel agencies and the tourism industries of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the Caribbean and Pacific regions. Such a process is brim with opportunities for innovation.
