The Hla’alua Cultural and Education Foundation hosted the Miatungusu (“Holy Shell Festival”) at the shrine of the Saaroa People (or Hla’alua people) today (Feb. 27). Besides congregating the Saaoroa Tribe, the event allowed to organizer Hla’alua Cultural and Educational Foundation to introduce the Ceremony-based Cultural Tourism Project implemented in conjunction with the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP). By collaborating with travel agencies such as Lion Travel and KKDAY, representative elements of Taoyuan district such as sightseeing spots, special agricultural products, and traditional ceremonies, were identified and incorporated into in-depth tourism itineraries to teach visitors about the ceremonies and culture of the Saaroa People. By having the Saaroa people themselves introduce the history and cultural stories of the Saaroa people, a positive understanding of indigenous cultures is engendered in visitors.

CIP Minister Icyang Parod attended the festival, stating that “most indigenous tribes are located in regions boasting beautiful natural sceneries and unique human cultures. These regions are perfect tourist attractions that allow Taiwanese citizens to gain insight into the cultures of different indigenous tribes. The CIP facilitated the cooperation between the Saaroa People and travel agencies, for which the travel agencies were responsible for planning ceremony itineraries and ensuring that the norms, taboos, and procedures of the ceremonies are fully respected. These itineraries will familiarize visitors with the core values and characteristics of indigenous cultures, and grow the tourism industry for indigenous tribes.”

The CIP further indicated that the tourism industry has always been one of the dominant industries of indigenous tribes. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has denied Taiwanese citizens the opportunities to travel abroad, it has, on the contrary, increased the demands for domestic tourism. The CIP will continue to adopt the core concepts of “sustainability,”“ecology,” and “creation” to promote the tribal tourism industry by assisting tribes in planning tourism itineraries centered on cultural experiences, developing innovative tourism experiences, and facilitating tribe–travel agency collaborations.