TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Over NT$7 million (US$218,045) will be spent in 2024 to help Nantou’s campsites obtain legal certification.

Nantou County Government Secretary-General Hung Jui-chih (洪瑞智) said on Tuesday (Oct. 29) that as of August, more than 400 campsites were operating in the county, per CNA. However, according to the county’s tourism department, only 12 meet the legal requirements.

More than 20 other campsites have been granted land-use permission, though they have not received soil and water certifications and other required permissions.

Hung said that to improve the state of the camping and leisure industry in Nantou, the county government has allocated NT$3 million in subsidies to help campsite operators gain legal certification. This is in addition to NT$4 million in subsidies the central government has provided to address the issue. 

Hung said construction regulations have recently been relaxed in Nantou to make establishing legal camping areas easier. The county government also communicates with and provides legal advice to the industry, he said.

Nantou has planned a camping festival for Nov. 9 to help promote sustainable tourism in the area, Hung said. The festival will feature local vendors, talks on environmental protection, children’s activities, musical performances, and sales by camping brands.