Tourism Bureau Hosts First Gender-Friendly Hotel Certification Information Seminar to Craft New Highlight in Sustainable Tourism
Posted Date:2025-07-01
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Introduce
To ensure that every visitor to Tainan can enjoy a safe and friendly stay, the Tourism Bureau of Tainan City Government is continuing to promote a diversity-friendly policy. As a continuation of previous measures on being family-friendly, pet-friendly, bicycle-friendly, and environmentally-friendly, the first “Gender-Friendly Accommodation Certification” information session was recently held. The 62 accommodation providers that have completed related training joined together to build a welcoming and inclusive tourism environment.
Mayor Huang Wei-che stated that sustainable development is prioritized by the Tainan tourism industry. The introduction of gender-friendly accommodation certification is not only a first for the Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan region but also reflects the efforts into CSR and ESG made by the Tainan tourism industry that will set a new benchmark for sustainable travel.
During the information session, experts detailed the definition, criteria, and application process for “gender-friendly accommodation.” Accommodation providers learned how to build accommodation spaces where everyone can feel at home during their stay, regardless of their gender or sexual preferences. The certification standard was co-developed through a three-way collaboration between the private, public, and education sectors including the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism (NKUHT), the Taiwan All Gender Tourism Association, and Tainan Sprout. Space and facilities, quality of service, staff education and training, and provider business policy were all combined to ensure the practicality of the services and the actual demand. The ideals of safety, respect, and friendliness could then be practiced in the hotel industry. Executive Director Chiang Shu-Hung from the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association was also invited to share his experiences. His lively presentation on gender-friendly accommodation received an enthusiastic welcome from all the accommodation providers on the day.
Director-General Lin Kuo-hua from the Tourism Bureau noted that growing competition in the tourism market means that improving the quality of service and reception as well as the demonstration of unique, friendly features will be crucial to accommodation providers seeking to win travelers’ favor. This, in turn, is a key line of counseling for the Tourism Administration. Director Lin also called upon the industry to work with the City Government on the joint promotion of gender-friendly, family-friendly, pet-friendly, bicycle-friendly, and environmentally friendly polices that will turn Tainan into a destination for sustainable tourism.
Mayor Huang Wei-che stated that sustainable development is prioritized by the Tainan tourism industry. The introduction of gender-friendly accommodation certification is not only a first for the Yunlin-Chiayi-Tainan region but also reflects the efforts into CSR and ESG made by the Tainan tourism industry that will set a new benchmark for sustainable travel.
During the information session, experts detailed the definition, criteria, and application process for “gender-friendly accommodation.” Accommodation providers learned how to build accommodation spaces where everyone can feel at home during their stay, regardless of their gender or sexual preferences. The certification standard was co-developed through a three-way collaboration between the private, public, and education sectors including the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism (NKUHT), the Taiwan All Gender Tourism Association, and Tainan Sprout. Space and facilities, quality of service, staff education and training, and provider business policy were all combined to ensure the practicality of the services and the actual demand. The ideals of safety, respect, and friendliness could then be practiced in the hotel industry. Executive Director Chiang Shu-Hung from the Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association was also invited to share his experiences. His lively presentation on gender-friendly accommodation received an enthusiastic welcome from all the accommodation providers on the day.
Director-General Lin Kuo-hua from the Tourism Bureau noted that growing competition in the tourism market means that improving the quality of service and reception as well as the demonstration of unique, friendly features will be crucial to accommodation providers seeking to win travelers’ favor. This, in turn, is a key line of counseling for the Tourism Administration. Director Lin also called upon the industry to work with the City Government on the joint promotion of gender-friendly, family-friendly, pet-friendly, bicycle-friendly, and environmentally friendly polices that will turn Tainan into a destination for sustainable tourism.
