OK, let me first confess – this is a bit of a clickbait title for a post; however, I had been discussing this topic on my resource many times. This time, the post will be about the recent discussion on PTT, where a user started a discussion with a similar question. and I want now to post translated answers from Chinese to English, make my own comments and add my 5cents since I feel qualified to do so – after all all my resource is devoted to this single place in Taiwan, called Kenting.
OP with a username Rose5566MVP, started a discussion, as we can see in above screenshot by saying this:
“Kenting
I think it’s the most suitable place on the island to be developed into something like Phuket or Pattaya in Thailand.
Away from the city, it has a vacation feel, and there’s no need to take a boat. There are mountains, the sea, and scenery.
There’s also Hengchun, which adds a bit of cultural charm to the town.
Basically, it’s like this: Morning cultural tours, afternoon water activities and watching beauties, and at night, walking around, drinking, and going to bars and nightclubs.
But it’s been ruined by a bunch of greedy accommodation businesses and outrageous tourist prices.
Now, not many people dare to go. It’s super empty on weekdays, and there are no international tourists. The crowd on weekends can’t compare to before.
It’s all ruined.
How can it be saved??”
First of all, while I agree with the OP saying that Kenting can become a second Pataya in Thailand, there is still a huge stretch – do not forget, that Pataya as such, is a kind of a sex tourism destination first, and only then it is a beach paradise – I would feel more honest if Kenting is compared to Bali, or Palau – and then the sandy beach amount in Kenting area is far less, than in Pataya. Kenting was never marketed in a same way as Pataya, and I do not think it should be – Kenting has its own unique flavors, as food, mountains, aboriginal culture, and more – not a sure beach holiday getaway, you cant compare them head to head.
Sail Rock Beach (Chuanfanshi) beach in Kenting.
OP then goes on saying that “But it’s been ruined by a bunch of greedy accommodation businesses and outrageous tourist prices.”
Well, while I agree that some food stall sellers charge unreasonable prices for the average at best food – check out our latest post about thin 400NTD chicken soup, I believe the root of the “evil” is the land lords. Some say that a place to rent a place for a food stall in Kenting costs as much as 30,000NTD per month, so what you can do? Remember also, that the real revenue for these sellers comes on weekends only, the weekdays, especially off-season Kenting Night Market look deserted, few people walk there, and then – every time I go to Kenting, I see a new food stall, the old one is gone. Is that because they had good business? I do think so. So, first, what is needed to do, is to lessen the greed from landlords who stand on the top of this food chain.
Here is the next post under the same topic from PTT:
Rainfruit replied, that “
“Now, it’s still too crowded.
There are a lot of people playing in the water, and the food on the streets is expensive. The people of Hengchun Town need to make a living too.
It’s quite messy and not much to explore.
But the scenery there is indeed beautiful, you can’t find a second place like this in Taiwan.
So, it’s only the really high-end hotels that give a feeling of being away from stress.
Clean, orderly, good food, beautiful scenery, even the beaches are better.
Kenting still has many upscale hotels.
When it comes down to it, it’s still about money.
Isn’t it the same when you go abroad? If you spend money, you get everything.
If you want to spend less, you go to messier places, and it’s just about the novelty.
Once the novelty wears off, you don’t love it anymore.”
I think, up to the point answer. You get what you pay for. In case you choose to stay, lets say in Chateau Beach Resort, you get a direct beach property with this beach:
But, then, it is expensive, really, to have a sea view room at the weekend may cost you more than 15,000 NTD. So, some peeps argue, that it is easier to buy a cheap ticket to the Philippines, rather than pay these prices. By the way, I having stay in Chateau numerous times, I can tell from my own experience, this resort is NOT a 5star beach resort that you would expect to have at this price. Beach bar is more closed than open, check the deserted look of beach bar in Chateau from my last trip:
However, this is a cultural thing, IMHO. Taiwane local tourists choose to go to Kenting Nightmarket instead, while the younger people who would want to sit in this bar just can not afford to stay in Chateau!
Next, lets look at this reply:
zark07222 says, that:
“Kenting, this place beyond the common world,
To be honest, it’s extremely suitable for development,
Red-light district and casinos.
Strolling leisurely on the beach during the day, soaking in the seawater,
Day and night, you can take a yacht out for parties,
Lying comfortably on the beach for a relaxed morning,
At night, dressing up glamorously to go to the casino,
All sorts of high-end restaurants and department stores have the opportunity to move in,
Not just the current shabby snack shops and unappetizing main streets.
With such development, the locals would reap endless benefits,
Local education up to university would be completely free,
Having a child would bring a direct subsidy of 500,000,
Local revenue from tourism and gambling would mean residents wouldn’t need to pay taxes,
Employment opportunities would increase by at least 100,000,
After development, it would essentially be the Las Vegas of Taiwan.
Why should Taiwan care about conventional morals?
All sorts of immoral people are already in politics,
Failing to develop this opportunity is a missed chance,
Kenting will never have the opportunity to rise again,
It really doesn’t matter what the locals think,
There are more outsiders coming in to make money than locals,
The local area is mostly left with the elderly, weak, women, and children,
There’s really no need for concern,
With these two major profitable developments,
There will definitely be funds to plan a special zone,
Providing a safe environment for these vulnerable groups,
Greatly improving their quality of life, completely unaffected.
Moreover,
The high-speed rail would definitely have the opportunity to extend to Kenting,
The hotel industry would be fully revived,
The food and beverage industry would be fully booked,
The economy would skyrocket,
10 years later,
Even Taipei’s Xinyi District might not be as lively as here!”
Well, somehow, i agree that locals are getting older and older – we even had a post last week about this. However, this guy talking about red light districts in Kenting, oh well, in his wet dreams, probably, yes.
The true problem here is not a single angle, in my opinion. It is not that a food stall seller is forced to sell a 120NTD corn cob or 1200NTD for a sea food set because of the landlord greed.
Or not even the problem of a 5 star resort leaving dirty underwear in the bathroom in a 200,000NTD per night villa.
Problem is also keeping beaches neat and clean – ensure that wastewater does not appear on Nanwan beach like this.
Or, banana beach boat operators messing up a Nanwan beach up to a point that it looks like a beach in Sierra Leone not in Taiwan?
it is a complex problem and must be addressed from many angles, and the food fall sellers are first to be blamed only because they are up on the surface. I would start with greedy landlords and the government who do not care. Maybe then even McDonalds would not choose to leave Kenting, right?