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In an attempt to promote medical and keep-fit tourism in Taiwan, the Tourism Bureau yesterday organized a record-setting reflexology therapy session in which nearly 1,000 international tourists received foot massages simultaneously, setting a world record.
A total of 2,000 people, including 1,000 reflexologists and some 830 tourists from countries such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia along with foreign expatriates in Taiwan, easily set the new world record after 40 minutes of foot massage at the Taipei Arena.
The previous record featured only 400 people getting reflexology for only 5 minutes.
"It is a great opportunity for us to gather here in the Taipei Arena today to bring together culture and tourism to showcase the high quality of reflexology services in Taiwan," said Janice Lai, director general of the Tourism Bureau. "In light of 2008-2009 being the year of Tour Taiwan, the Tourism Bureau would like to use creativity and sincerity to touch the hearts of international tourists and give then an unforgettable memory that they will remember for the rest of their lives," she added.
Before the foot massage, a delicate artistic drumming performance by the famous U Theater helped the participants first attain a peaceful mind through the sounds and silence, simple beats and intricate meshes of the drums. The precisely articulated rhythms brought out the complex beauty of drumming.
Following the drumming performance, the Meimen Qigong and Culture Center taught the 2,000 participants a basic qigong course that helps to develop the human mind and body to stay healthy.
Lai said Taiwan provides a diverse range of medical and health maintenance tourism products such as hot springs spas, massages, other spas and healthy dining, which have long been welcomed by international tourists.
The Tourism Bureau will continue to hold events promoting these types of products to attract more international tourists to experience the excellent quality of Taiwan's tourism services, she added.
Taiwan is hoping to increase the number of tourists and other visitors to 4 million this year - a 7 percent increase year-on-year.
One way it hopes to do this is to encourage travelers to come here for simple healing therapy, such as massages to more complicated medical procedures, such as plastic surgery, taking advantage of the islands' advanced, but relatively affordable health care system. The country is hoping to become a medical tourism destination like Thailand or Singapore.
In addition to the free massage fest, the Tourism Bureau is also offering incentives such as gifts, special hotel deals and prizes to lure tourists to the island this year.
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