Taiwan's exhibition area at the ITB Berlin, which uses “Taiwan Tea” as its theme, is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo courtesy of the Tourism Bureau

By Shelley Shan / Staff reporter

Three short films produced by Taiwan's Tourism Bureau won two gold-star awards and one silver-star award at the Golden City Gate Tourism Multimedia Awards in Berlin, the bureau said yesterday.

The awards were presented on Wednesday last week during ITB Berlin, the world's largest travel fair.

“The awards were an affirmation and encouragement from the international travel industry for the efforts that Taiwan made to provide profound tourism experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Hsieh Chang-ming (谢长明), director of the bureau's office in Frankfurt, Germany .

The Crown of the Adventure, which won a gold-star award in the award's regional category, features the natural scenery and culture of Taiwan's north coast, including a new surfing spot in Jhongjiao Bay and Linyun Zen Temple, the bureau said.

The fast-paced film aims to draw international tourists with a spirit of adventure, it said.

Wedding under the Alishan Divine Tree documents a wedding taking place at a giant tree cluster in Alishan, the bureau said.

The film received a gold-star award in the international culture and arts category, it said.

Jingzaijiao Tile-Paved Salt Fields (Jingzaijiao Tile-Paved Salt Fields), which showcases unique salt field scenes along the coastal areas in Tainan, Yunlin and Chiayi counties, won a silver-star award in the ecotourism category, the bureau said, adding that it shows the sites' “ecological beauty” and “the universal value of sustainability.”

Wolfgang Jo Huscher, who cofounded and presided over the review committee, said that the committee reviewed more than 100 films submitted by 20 countries this year, with the themes ranging from culture to ecosystem and innovation, he said.

Taiwan's exhibition area at ITB Berlin used “Taiwan Tea” as its theme, drawing the attention of tourism operators and German politicians visiting the exhibition, the bureau said.

About 5,500 tourism operators from 161 countries took part in the exhibition this year, the bureau said.

News source: TAIPEI TIMES