Although Taiwan is doing a masterful job fighting COVID-19, the pandemic is hammering many businesses. Among the hardest hit are the hotels and airlines. Walk into almost any hotel lobby and you’ll see that it’s empty. With great sadness, I’ve already had to cancel my flight to the U.S. in May to attend my daughter’s college graduation, which has been postponed indefinitely.

I understand that the government is working on policies to help the travel industry. This is fantastic news, and we should all support the effort. Taiwan has already received global praise for the brilliant way it has handled the public health and medical issues related to COVID-19. Now it has an excellent opportunity to showcase its talent for dealing with the economic damage. In many ways, the medical and business issues can’t be separated. They’re both crucial for a healthy society. 

Hotels – especially the international brands -- are among the best unofficial ambassadors for Taiwan. They help promote the country to their regular customers through their global reservation systems. They bring big-spending tourists and business travelers to the country. They traditionally serve as the first point of contact, creating that all-important first impression of Taiwan. 

I’ve had the pleasure to get to know many of the general managers at the best international hotels in Taiwan. They are among the most enthusiastic supporters of this wonderful country. They are also among the most creative and energetic in marketing Taiwan to the world. 

Their hotels play a vital role in introducing new global standards of service to the Taiwan market and developing best practices here that can be shared with the world. They provide exceptional training to young Taiwanese employees. They also encourage their staff to pursue international opportunities that will give them the global experience essential for Taiwan’s next generation of leaders. 

What could help these businesses during these tough economic times? One simple thing would be to provide assistance with utility expenses – gas, water and electricity. Although hotels are mostly empty, they still need to keep the power on, and this is costly. Utility companies should reduce their fees, effective as soon as February 2020. 

Soruce: Shutterstock

Another way to assist would be to offer vouchers to the public that would stimulate spending. During the financial crisis of 2008, consumers were given vouchers worth NT$3,600. They were widely accepted by most businesses and refunded by the government. 

Some flexibility with the labor law would also be beneficial. 

For the airline industry, the government can take repeat what was done during the SARS epidemic in 2003 and offer essential subsidies – for things such as rental fees, wages, royalties, landing fees -- to help the airlines get through this pandemic. 

Keeping the population healthy should be the government’s primary goal. So far, it’s doing a fantastic job amid an extremely challenging environment -- and the world is noticing. I want to encourage the government to also seize the opportunity to showcase a high-level of competency in protecting the economy. Supporting businesses in hard-hit sectors is a great way to do this.

Have you read?
♦ How to beat the coronavirus without the WHO? Ask Taiwan
♦ Civic Tech Versus COVID-19: Online Map and Reservation System Help Fight the Virus
♦ Where is Globalization Headed Amid COVID-19 Epidemic?
♦ How Taiwan Fights COVID-19
♦ Coronavirus to Take Bite out of GDP - Can Taiwanese Companies Cope?

William Foreman is a former foreign correspondent for The Associated Press who covered Greater China for 10 years and now serves as the president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei.