Ministry of Economic Affairs: Add an additional 2.55 billion yuan each year to support business districts and night markets for tourism

The Commercial Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Economic Affairs held the "2026 National Excellent Business District Award Ceremony" today (10th) at the Keda Hotel in Taipei. The Minister of Economic Affairs Gong Mingxin personally presented the award.

The Commercial Affairs Department of the Ministry of Economic Affairs pointed out that in order to further expand support for business districts, the Ministry of Economic Affairs will invest an additional 2.55 billion yuan every year starting from 2016 through the "Program for Supporting and Strengthening Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises" in the future to continue to support the development of business districts, traditional markets and night markets.

The Commerce Department stated that the Ministry of Economic Affairs will administer the "National Outstanding Business District Award" starting from 2024, and set up three categories: "Highlights of Tourism", "Charming Features" and "Friendly Environment". This year, 20 outstanding business districts were selected to set benchmarks through award recognition, encourage business districts from all over the world to communicate and learn from each other, and demonstrate the rich characteristics and vitality of Taiwan's business districts.

In the "Charming Characteristics Award" that deeply cultivates local culture and unique neighborhood style, "Changhua County Tianwei Highway Garden Business District" breaks the traditional agricultural production framework, combines superb cultivation technology and market operation capabilities, and successfully transforms the horticulture industry into a highly commercialized leisure business district integrating sightseeing, leisure and flower consumption, setting a model of innovative transformation. The "Tainan City Yanyan Business District" is based on the profound history and culture of Yuejin Port, integrating Yanyan Bee Cannons and old street settlements, and revitalizing cultural assets through cultural tours, immersive experiences, and classic activities such as the Yuejin Harbor Lantern Festival, restoring the century-old town to its modern charm.

In the "Highlight Tourism Award", "New Taipei City Pingxi Business District" has three core areas: railway culture, coal mine ruins and the famous sky lantern festival. It perfectly integrates historical memories and folk celebrations, and has become Taiwan's most representative tourism brand that is loved by international tourists. "Pingtung County Xiaoliuqiu Commercial District" connects island catering, accommodation and marine tourism. It focuses on low-carbon sustainability, island culture and the King's Welcome Festival, and cooperates with marine education and night tours to create the most representative sustainable marine tourism base in southern Taiwan.

In the "Friendly Environment Award", "Taipei City's New Beitou Hot Spring Business District" actively builds an age-friendly environment. Many hot spring hotels in the area provide high-quality barrier-free accommodation, and improve the trails and guidance systems around the park and geothermal valley, greatly improving the recreational comfort of the elderly and people with mobility impairments. "Chiayi County Prince Commercial District" focuses on smart convenience. It has built a digital navigation map and LINE barrier-free guidance platform, and fully introduced multiple digital payments to create an all-round friendly consumption space that is free of cash and allows you to travel at will.

The Commerce Department stated that in recent years, it has continued to be tourism-oriented, helping business districts optimize friendly services, enhance consumer experience, develop specialty products and tours, and through brand marketing, digital applications and resource connections, help business districts increase business volume and attract tourists to enter the business district for consumption. In order to further expand support, in the future, through the "Support and Strengthening Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises Plan", an additional 2.55 billion yuan will be invested every year starting from 2016 to continue to support the development of business districts, traditional markets and night markets, help optimize the consumer environment, promote digital applications, deepen brand marketing and expand international markets, and enhance the operational resilience and competitiveness of small, medium and micro stores.