TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Kenting will see at least two hotel chains leave this year as the number of visitors drops, reports said Thursday.

Kenting National Park recorded 2.14 million visitors during 2024, a decline of 480,000 from the previous year. The figure was also a far cry from the 8.37 million visitors reported in 2014, per CNA.

Facing problems including the popularity of overseas travel and the shortage of personnel, the hotel sector is cutting back in the area. Two hotel chains will reach the end of their leases during the year and will not renew, local tourism officials said.

Another hotel, the Uni-Resort Kenting, is closing down on Feb. 28, with the owner saying a rethink was necessary 30 years after its opening. The closure will only be temporary, with redecoration and reconstruction work likely to make the property more in sync with present-day visitors’ needs, the report said.

Tourism officials said the government needed to improve local transportation infrastructure, forge better connections to harbors and airports, and attract more overseas visitors. There is also a need for assistance in organizing events and creating a more visitor-friendly environment in Kenting.