EXECUTIVE TRAVEL / SPOTLIGHT ON TAIWAN : Tips for Taiwan: Don’t Forget Business Cards--or Umbrella

Taiwan, although it has limited official diplomatic relations, is one of the busiest trade and manufacturing centers in East Asia. The island’s location--near Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, the Philippines and mainland China--and the fact that it has one of the busiest airports in Asia make it easily accessible to business travelers.

Getting There

Both a passport and a visa are required to visit Taiwan. Visas for up to 60 days are free and can be obtained by contacting the Coordination Council for North American Affairs in Los Angeles at (213) 389-1215.

Business travelers are usually headed to Taipei on the northern part of the island, the country’s center of commerce and its largest city. Industry in Taipei is primarily electronics and computers, said James Yu, spokesman for the nation’s Coordination Council in Los Angeles. Taiwan maintains no formal consulate.

Other major business destinations include Kaohsiung in the south, a harbor city convenient for export and import. The country’s heavy manufacturing is concentrated in this area. Taichung, between Taipei and Kaohsiung, is a center for service industries such as real estate and banking.

Major Asian airlines, including China Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Korean Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Singapore Airlines, as well as U.S. carriers Northwest and Continental, fly into Taiwan. International flights go to Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, about 45 minutes outside of Taipei in Taoyuan. There is shuttle service to the older Sung-Shan domestic airport near downtown Taipei.

Domestic Travel

For travel within the country there are two domestic airlines: China Airlines and Far East Air Transport. There are about two dozen 40-minute flights daily between Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Once in Taiwan, it is best to rely on taxi drivers, according to Yu. “Traffic is very, very bad, particularly in Taipei,” he said. Cabdrivers, who operate with meters and don’t expect a tip (although it is customary to let the driver keep the change), can get you where you’re going more quickly than you could on your own, Yu said.

Car rental is relatively expensive, and a Taiwanese driver’s license is required if you are staying longer than two months. Drive on the right side of the road.

Climate

Taiwan is subtropical, with rain heaviest from April to August. Typhoons are a risk in summer and fall. A sweater or light coat may be needed from late fall to early spring. Snow occasionally falls in the mountains in midwinter.

Security

In contrast to some other Asian destinations, traveler’s checks are widely accepted throughout Taiwan, Yu said. Note that banking hours are 9 a.m to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays.

Taiwan is generally considered a safe place for foreigners to visit. According to the U.S. State Department, the crime rate is low. Theft is the most common crime affecting foreigners. Any theft--of a passport in particular--should be reported both to the local police and the American Institute in either Taipei or Kaohsiung. The American Institute in Taiwan is authorized to serve U.S. citizens as an embassy, as there is no embassy in Taiwan.

Foreign businesses have occasionally been the subject of extortion attempts. Get recorded travel information from the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs ((202) 647-5225) before planning a trip. Travelers who register at the American Institute once they arrive will receive up-to-date security information.

As in all foreign travel, U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country they are visiting. Taiwan’s laws on possession or sale of drugs carry stiff sentences and large fines.

Customs

When doing business in Taiwan, be sure to have business cards bearing your name and title, Yu said. It’s customary to exchange such cards with the person you are meeting.

Although it is not customary to bring a gift to a first meeting with a new business associate, one is welcomed if you know the business contact well.

Lodgings

Since the late 1970s, Taiwan has seen rapid economic growth, and with it has come a buildup in hotels. Major cities now have a number of quality business hotels. For example, in Taipei, business travelers can stay at the Hilton International Taipei (38 Chung-Hsiao W. Road, Sec. 1; (02) 311-5151) or the Lai-Lai Sheraton (12 Chung-Hsiao E. Road, Sec. 1; (02) 321-5511).

For those who prefer a traditional Chinese atmosphere but still want business amenities, Yu recommends the Grand Hotel, a Taipei landmark that resembles an ancient Chinese palace (1 Chung-Shan N. Road, Sec. 4; (02) 596-5565).

In Kaohsiung, there is the Ambassador Hotel (202 Min-Sheng 2nd Road (07) 211-5211), or the Grand Hotel (2 Yuan-Shan Road, Cheng-Hing Lake, (07) 383-5911).

While staying in hotels, be aware that although most staff members speak some English, they may not understand your requests even if they indicate they do. When in doubt, ask the hotel for an interpreter. Because of Japan’s 50-year occupation of Taiwan, some older Taiwanese speak Japanese.

Most hotels and restaurants in Taiwan add a 10% service charge to bills, so tips are not required.