Kinmen Tourism Development and Cross Border Gaze
Date Issued
2008
Date
2008
Author(s)
Chang, Li-Hui
Abstract
Kinmen Tourism Development and Cross Border Gazehang, Li-Huioctoral dissertation of Graduate Institute of Building and Planning, National Taiwan Universitybstract In the past fifteen years, major changes have taken place in the world’s political geography. Many politically sensitive regions have been opened, and tourists are allowed to enter without restrictions. Cross-border traveling therefore blooms and sprawls the world. Boundaries no longer are obstacles of tourism development in the world, and profits gained from the tourism of domestic and cross-border regions are apt to be more important these days. Of interest under the easing of travel is the position of the frontier island of Taiwan, Kinmen, which has become an experimental region for policies between Taiwan and China. Kinmen, formerly known as Quemoy, was a disputed island and the site of the 1958 823 Artillery War (also known as the Kinmen Artillery War). Because of its military importance as a heavily fortified area, Kinmen was closed for a period of nearly 36 years when neither residents nor trade could freely circulate to or from other zones. Following the commencement of cross-strait relations in 2001 under the ‘mini three links policy’ Kinmen has become an experimental region for Taiwan’s policies toward China. Consequently Kinmen has become a point of access to China for Taiwanese traveling to the mainland for trade and/or tourism. As seen in the accompanying maps, for many this is a more direct route than via Hong Kong or possibly Macau, thereby potentially saving time and expense. The process was not immediate. First there was permission for Taiwan residents to tour Kinmen, second, those resident in Kinmen were allowed to trade or tour in China, and third, Taiwanese businessmen trading with China could then do so by way of Kinmen if possessing suitable documentation and last, residents in Fujian received permission to visit Kinmen. Thus a tourism circuit of Taiwan, Kinmen and Xiamen has taken shape. From the battlefield to attraction site, Kinmen has gone through a major transformation, not merely socially or economically but in terms of thought, perceptions and attitudes. This study examines the relationship of conflict, global movements and symbolic meaning in the establishment of Kinmen as a tourist destination. orders have their unique significance of various kinds, and they are a colliding stronghold of two political entities, where their economies tend to be consistent, cultural fusions are matched, among others. Borders give way to globalization, especially in the case of tourism, where unique significance comes into play. Thus, the meeting of Kinmen’s and Xiamen’s borders has made their relationships so unique and interesting. There are six major relations between tourism and cross-border in the Kinmen region. First, from battles space to tourism space. Second, cross border becomes the major attraction. Third, borders are obstacles to transit. Forth, undergoing regional cultural re-identity. Fifth, development of the “tour circle of Taiwan, Kinmen and Xiamen” as the economical strategy. Finally, tourism development as the force of local reformation.eywords: Kinmen, Tourism, Gaze, Political Boundaries, Cross-Border Traveling amp;copy;2008
Subjects
Kinmen
Tourism
Gaze
Political Boundaries
Cross-Border Travelling
SDGs
Type
thesis
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
ntu-97-D89544001-1.pdf
Size
23.53 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):6d122270d1ebe45fbc6f4b1ef4b7e9d8