Relocation machines hit the eastern outlying islands and return home. Travel industry: International tourists will have little impact

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wanan recently put forward the idea of ​​relocating Songshan Airport, planning to build a "Taipei AI Park" of about 300 hectares at the original site and surrounding areas after the relocation. Regarding the impact on urban development, transportation and tourism industry, Li Qiyue, chairman of Innovation Travel Agency, believes that if the surrounding height and construction restrictions can be lifted during Songji's relocation, it will help urban development. In the future, the AI ​​industry cluster will take shape, and it is expected to attract international business travelers and drive the development of hotel accommodation and surrounding real estate. However, residents from outlying islands and the east may face a greater impact on transportation back home.

Li Qiyue said that the area around Songji has long been restricted by flight safety factors. If the airport is relocated and height restrictions and construction restrictions are lifted, it will help land development and urban renewal. If the inner lakes are further connected and traffic is improved through new roads and bridges, regional transportation efficiency can also be improved. He believes that the AI ​​park is not just for industrial construction, but may also form business clusters and bring a different urban style to Taipei.

However, he also reminded that after Songji is relocated, residents of outlying islands and eastern areas will be the most affected groups. If domestic routes are consolidated into Taoyuan Airport and residents of Kinmen, Penghu, Matsu, Taitung, and Hualien return home, transportation time and transfer costs may increase. "For people living on outlying islands, the pain index will be very high." Alternative transportation options must be carefully evaluated.

As for whether international tourists have reduced their willingness to come to Taiwan due to the relocation of the airport, Li Qiyue believes that the impact will be limited. He pointed out that it takes about 40 to 50 minutes from Taoyuan Airport to downtown Taipei, which is more convenient than the transportation time from Tokyo Narita Airport to the city. For international tourists, the geographical difference between Taoyuan Airport and Songji is not the key to determining travel intention.

He further stated that according to statistics from the Tourism Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, about 80% of international tourists visiting Taiwan are mainly concentrated in Shuangbei. Therefore, the relocation of Songji will have little impact on Taipei’s existing tourist sources. On the contrary, if the AI ​​Park attracts international manufacturers to settle in the future, it will increase the demand for business, business travel and accommodation.

Taking TSMC Kumamoto, Japan as an example, he pointed out that after the semiconductor industry moved in, supply chains and international manufacturers gathered one after another, which also led to the development of the surrounding hotel industry. "It was originally a place where cabbage fields were used, but now there are several new hotels." He believes that if the AI ​​industry cluster can be successfully formed, the tourism industry will not necessarily be affected, but will have the opportunity to open up new customers, and the value of surrounding land is also expected to increase as development conditions improve.