Only 10% of Cingjing Accommodations Defect-Free; Control Yuan Corrects Nantou County Government

Central News Agency, Taipei, 24th. The Control Yuan stated today that the Cingjing area in Nantou is a popular tourist destination. The Nantou County Government completed a safety inspection report for buildings in the area, categorizing them into A (immediate danger), B (partial defects), and C (no significant defects). However, only 10% of operators were in the C (no significant defects) category, and the government has never proactively disclosed this information, leaving consumers unaware. Therefore, the Control Yuan issued a correction to the Nantou County Government. The Control Yuan released a press release this morning stating that the Nantou County Government conducted a 'Safety Inspection of Buildings Surrounding Accommodations in the Cingjing Area.' The results are crucial for traveler safety, yet the county government has not proactively disclosed this information for years, disregarding consumers' right to know and choose. Furthermore, operators registered after 2022 were not included in the safety inspections, showing negligence toward accommodation safety in Cingjing. The Control Yuan corrected the Nantou County Government. Additionally, the Tourism Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications should study the establishment of evacuation and emergency response mechanisms and conduct regular drills to ensure traveler safety and the sustainable development of the tourism industry. The Control Yuan mentioned that after the documentary 'Beyond Beauty: Taiwan from Above' by director Chi Po-lin was released in 2013, the problems in Cingjing Farm received widespread attention. The Control Yuan launched an investigation into homestay management and illegal building handling in Cingjing at the end of 2015 and issued a correction in 2017. The Nantou County Government then conducted the safety inspections, which have been ongoing for over 10 years. Control Yuan members Tian Chiu-chin and Tsai Chung-yi found that most homestays in Cingjing are located in 'geologically sensitive areas for landslides' and 'potential areas for large-scale collapse disasters,' posing safety risks under heavy rain or earthquakes. The Control Yuan pointed out that although the Nantou County Government conducted the inspections, there were gaps between the 'number of registered businesses' and 'number of businesses inspected.' Operators registered after 2022 were mostly not included, which is a clear oversight. The Control Yuan noted that Cingjing is a popular tourist spot in Taiwan. To understand the geological safety risks, the county government used public funds to commission a report, which categorized businesses into A, B, and C. According to the report, only about 10% of businesses in Cingjing were in the C category, and this number is decreasing annually, yet consumers are completely unaware. The Control Yuan has repeatedly requested the county government to disclose these results, but the government has refused, which is a dereliction of duty. The investigation report also pointed out that Taiwan is prone to earthquakes and extreme weather, and the Tourism Administration should urge B-category businesses to implement monitoring and evacuation plans, and guide A-category businesses to improve or cease operations.