travel news review


21 October '98
Typhoon Zeb has now swept over three countries, killing more than 100 people and causing untold destruction. Last week more than 80 people died in the Philippines when Typhoon Zeb hit the northern islands, causing floods and landslides that swept away flimsy homes. Over 30,000 people were evacuated and thousands of hectares of rice paddies were destroyed. Zeb reached 'super typhoon' status at its peak, with winds measured at over 241 kph (150mph). In Taiwan the typhoon caused further damage and domestic flights to Kaohsiung and nearby islands were cancelled. Zeb has been the first typhoon to hit Japan in eight years, and it struck on the weekend, causing hundreds of landslides and killing at least 10 people. Its typhoon status has since eased into a tropical storm.

27 May '98
STA Travel, the Australian-owned student travel service, plans to open a number of travel offices in Taiwan over the next two years. STA Taipei has already been established and offices will open in Taichung and Kaoshuing by 2000. STA also plans to open 17 outlets at major university campuses in Taiwan over the next three years. Despite the economic downturn in the region, the student and backpacker market in Asia continues to be reasonably buoyant and STA Travel are planning expansion into other Asian cities.

25 March '98
Sun Yat Sen and Chiang Kai-shek are out of favour on Taiwanese currency, and will be removed from next year. When the Central Bank of Taiwan takes control of minting duties from the Bank of Taiwan, new images will appear on the notes. Currently the Bank is considering designs of musical instruments and flora as well as some of TaiwanÆs historical figures including Koxinga, who expelled the Dutch from Tianan, and the first Qing dynasty governor of Taiwan, Liu Ming-chuan.

4 March '98
Passengers travelling on Taiwan’s airlines face possible life sentences if they are caught using mobile phones or other electronic equipment during flights. The Taiwan Civil Aeronautics Administration announced the tough new regulations last week in move designed to prevent a fatal accident caused by electronic equipment interfering with aerial communications systems.

18 February '98
Domestic flight tickets are to increase in price as of 1 June. Domestic prices have not been adjusted in the last five years, and will rise about 13% for flights within Taiwan, and around 28% for flights from Taiwan to offshore islands.