Green Island Enters Peak Tourist Season; Illegal Accommodation Accused of Filming Guests Bathing, Police Investigating

Central News Agency

(Taitung County, May 9, Reporter Lu Tai-cheng) Green Island has entered its peak tourist season, and a traveler has complained that an accommodation provider secretly filmed guests bathing. The police have collected evidence and are investigating the case for privacy infringement. The Taitung County Government's Tourism Development Department stated today that the accused accommodation is operating illegally, has been fined three times, and has been ordered to cease operations.

Lin Wei-feng, team leader of the Third Group of the Taitung Precinct of the Taitung County Police Bureau, told the Central News Agency reporter today that the Taitung Precinct discovered on the evening of the 7th that a member of the public had posted on a social media platform, alleging that they were secretly filmed by an unknown person at an accommodation in Green Island Township. The precinct has accepted the case for investigation, and the Green Island Police Station has completed the victim's reporting procedure.

Lin Wei-feng stated that the police have completed relevant interviews and on-site inspections, and have retrieved surrounding surveillance footage to clarify the facts of the case. In addition, the police have coordinated with the Taitung County Government's Tourism Development Department to conduct an on-site inspection, jointly understanding the on-site environment and property management status, to facilitate further clarification of the case and related actions. The case is currently being actively investigated by the police.

The Taitung Precinct urged the public to carefully select legal and safely managed accommodation when traveling and to be mindful of privacy and safety in their accommodation environment. If any suspicious circumstances are found, please report them to the police immediately to jointly protect your rights and safety.

Hung Kuo-chin, Deputy Director of the Taitung County Government's Tourism Development Department, told a Central News Agency reporter that on the 8th, the county government received a report that a tourist had allegedly been secretly filmed by an unknown person while bathing during a trip to Green Island recently. The county government's Tourism Development Department immediately dispatched personnel to inspect with the police, confirming that the location was an illegal campsite and B&B. It has been fined three times in the past three years, totaling NT$120,000.

Hung Kuo-chin stated that the county government has again ordered the operator to immediately cease operations to protect the safety and rights of guests. Subsequent actions will be handled in accordance with the Tourism Development Act, and tourists are urged to confirm whether an accommodation is legal before booking to ensure accommodation quality.

The county government stated that whether an accommodation is legal is not only related to the quality of accommodation but also to the personal safety of tourists, fire safety equipment, building public safety, and personal privacy protection. Illegal accommodations often have not been inspected by the competent authorities and lack necessary safety facilities and management mechanisms. In the event of consumer disputes, accidents, or public safety incidents, it is more difficult for tourists' rights to be protected.

The Tourism Development Department reminded the public that when planning travel accommodations, they should prioritize choosing legally registered accommodation providers. Information on legal hotels, B&Bs, and campsites can be found on the Taiwan Lodging website of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications Tourism Bureau. Before checking in, visitors can also check whether the operator displays a legal accommodation registration sign to avoid staying in illegal establishments due to low prices or online promotions.

The Tourism Development Department emphasized that it will continue to strengthen inspections and crackdowns on illegal accommodations and cooperate with police, fire, and other units to maintain Taitung's tourism environment and accommodation safety. It also urged operators not to operate illegally with a侥倖之心, and to jointly maintain Taitung's high-quality, safe tourism image, allowing travelers to travel with peace of mind and stay with confidence. (Edited by: Chen Ren-hua) 1150509

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