"Why do backpackers rarely go to Taiwan?"

I have given you the correct answer. You can accept it or not accept it, but it is correct nonetheless.

Permit me to expand.

#6 mentioned the perception that Taiwan is the "fake" China. His statement is correct.

That is the perception among travelers.

The perception is incorrect, but that is the perception nonetheless..

Actually Taiwan is the place that preserved real Chinese Culture, Mainland China is the place that eliminated it several decades ago and is now trying to re-capture it.

Accept (I don't know), drumming for an example.

Big drums are used in Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. but religion was once nearly eliminated from Mainland China. (Haw can you represent china without Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism?)
On Taiwan they are used at funerals for rich men, but richness and ostentatious displays were once despised on mainland China. so the drums have died.
On Taiwan, they are used at political rallies, but political rallies are not widely accepted in mainland China. so teh drums have died.

Thus while pounding on big drums is as ubiquitous to Chinese culture as catsup is in the US, the drumming culture in China has died. yet the TAI -ping drum remains quite common on TAI wan, people somehow think that mainland china has preserved Chinese culture, but think Taiwan has not.

The reality is the exact opposite.
You and I both know the opposite is true. Still, that is the perception.

Should we discuss temples? Burning ghost money? Tiny entrepreneurs opening fruit stalls in night markets? Half-dressed ladies selling beetle nut? that's all a part of Chinese culture, which Taiwan has preserved and mainland china has discarded. (That'snot to mention the artifacts in the National Museum, what would have happened to them in the Cultural Revolution?)

I lived in Shanghai for a year and traveled the southern mainland somewhat extensively. Taiwan has done a much better job or preserving Chinese culture than the mainland did. But that is not the perception among travelers.

You may add that to my 4 points above.

Edited by: LongIslandBob

Indeed, what I wrote about 'real' China and 'fake' China is about perception. A lot of 'old stuff' has been destroyed during China's cultural revolution.

Indeed, what I wrote about 'real' China and 'fake' China is about perception. A lot of 'old stuff' has been destroyed during China's cultural revolution.

Correct. Absolutely correct.

That said, I think "teaching the entire world that the entire world has a misconception about Taiwan," is not a good short or middle-term strategy for Taiwan.

What it should do is to open up its mountains and natural areas, develop its beach areas, and then let its natural enthusiasm, familiarity, and hospitality flow freely. It's already dong the last part so, one out of three ain't bad.

I am also giving the correct answers. I am a citizen of Taiwan and have spent 25 years of my life in Taiwan.

I agree that there is more traditional culture in Taiwan than in Mainland China. But the perception of many foreign tourists (backpackers or otherwise) is that Mainland China is the 'real' China - whatever that means.

I don't see Taiwan becoming a major tourist destination anytime soon for backpackers or anyone else. It is lacking that emblematic symbol which gets people to a country in the first place - for example Thailand and beaches, China and the Great Wall.

I still encourage people to visit Taiwan - main attractions being it's traditional culture, the scenery and the friendliness of its people.

I am also giving the correct answers. I am a citizen of Taiwan and have spent 25 years of my life in Taiwan.

You are giving correct answers.
But you asked "Why do backpackers rarely go to Taiwan?" and your answers do not respond to that question.

Just saying.

Well said drumbrake.

I think the video fails and the video makers have never been backpackers.
What are the most import factors to attract to visit a country you have never been？
1.Attractions
Culture, geography, shopping, ecology could be the attractions.

2.Transportation
Travelers will visit a country not because of an attractions but because of lot attractions.
Well organized transportation make the itinerary accessible and easier

3.Accommodation
Backpackers needs cheap and safety accommodation.
---------------------

The video is weird.
Hitchhiking and couchsurfing make the itinerary inaccessible.
Warm heart is the supplementary but not the major reason I visit a country.
I don't think the video tell backpackers why visit Taiwan.

Well, I do think a lot of great stuff from China has been preserved in Taiwan, but I'd never say that Taiwan is the "real" China or that it fully preserved Chinese culture when China destroyed it...but that's because I believe that Taiwan's culture is greater, more diverse and more unique than that. The Chinese aspect of the culture is just one aspect, and while it's a major one, it's also smaller than most people think.

When I tell my friends back home that Taiwan, while it shares a lot with China, is NOT China and in fact has its own unique local culture, they tend to either not believe me or not really hear me, or they're just surprised.

Everyone's so used to assuming that Taiwan is China Lite, or "democratic China", or "the other China" that few regard Taiwan on its own terms. And if you're going to go to "China" and think that Taiwan is basically "China Lite" (because you don't know any better) you won't choose Taiwan.

If people were more aware of Taiwan's uniqueness they would likely be far more inclined to visit. Just as if you think Sri Lanka is "India Lite" (it's NOT!), and you want to go to "India", you'll choose India, not Sri Lanka. Or If you think Portugal is Spain Lite, you'll choose Spain. But those countries (especially Sri Lanka) have done a good job differentiating themselves from their larger neighbors in the global psyche...something Taiwan has not done.

I agree with Kaminoge - the main issue is that Taiwan doesn't promote itself well. After 7 years in Taiwan, I've seen several tourism campaigns come and go. One was obviously made with a local mindset and probably would appeal somewhat to Asian tourists, but didn't take in an international view or mindset at all (the old "Taiwan will touch your heart" CNN commercial). The other was just as bad, and slower (that really slow, meditative one that was 7 minutes long which I think accompanied the "Taiwan: Heart of Asia" promotional effort).

What they really need to do if they want tourists is to hire a couple of foreigners with some PR and tourism industry experience to come in and shake up their promotional efforts, not just locals who can put out a basically polished product but don't get the international traveler mindset (nothing wrong with also having locals on the team, of course, I mean it is their country, but there's a fairly specific mindset I'm trying to get at here that I do find those currently working in the tourism promotional projects lack).

I mean, Malaysia managed a solid campaign that has brought in travelers (Malaysia Truly Asia), "Incredible India" has done some great stuff (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLx2KXwv-6c)...and Taiwan just can't seem to get it right. I don't want to see some guy on a bus and two Japanese girls in a nice hotel room. I don't want to see a hiking group posing on a rock or various pictures of trees and mountains (a few of 'em are OK but you need better quality ones than usually make it into those commercials). I want to see drummers, temple parades, spirit mediums (I really have a thing for spirit mediums), mountain cycling, hot springs, beaches, crazy night markets. I want something packed with culture and scenery, like that Incredible India commercial above. That's what gets tourists to your country, not still shots of temples (which are cool, but aren't nearly artistic or dynamic enough for a pro commercial) or panoramas of mountains without people actually doing something like climbing, driving through or cycling over them.

In the end, though, I'm kind of happy in a way that Western tourism hasn't hit Taiwan. My least favorite parts of every country I've visited have been the backpackery parts. My least favorite parts of Taiwan are the touristy parts, too. If I had to pick a few "winners" they'd be Hehuan Mountain, the stretch of east coast between Hualien and Taidong - Qingshui Cliffs too, and Donggang during a festival. If I had to pick a few parts I didn't enjoy that much they'd be Kenting and Sun Moon Lake. My favorite part of Taipei is Guiyang Street, and I also like the area behind Taipei Main Station with all the DIY shops. My least favorite part is Xinyi and the East District where 101 and all the big clubs and department stores are. My favorite swimming spot in Taiwan is the swimming hole at Longdong. The beach that disappointed me the most was in Kending's main town.

So I'm of two minds about this "let's get backpackers to Taiwan" thing.

And, frankly, as a traveler, I DO visit places for the food. I went to Padang just so I could eat Padang cuisine. I went to Udupi just so I could eat masala dosa there. I went to Boquete, Panama for coffee and coffee alone (I also went ziplining, but mainly I went for the coffee). I went to Chongqing for hotpot (Chongqing sucks otherwise) and Thailand for the food, which is across-the-board good. One of the best parts of Xinjiang was the food. And Turkey...oh, I went to Gaziantep for baklava and baklava alone.

So some of us do follow our tastebuds around the globe. It wouldn't hurt to promote that (remember Hong Kong's "shopping and eating" commercial? Like that. It was pretty successful if I remember correctly).