To further expand Kaohsiung’s presence in the Southeast Asian tourism market and promote its unique rural tourism offerings, Agriculture Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government conducted a six-day agricultural tourism promotion in Malaysia from 23 to 28 June. The delegation hosted the “Kaohsiung Agricultural Tourism Promotion Event” in Kuala Lumpur and visited key stakeholders across the tourism, aviation, and hospitality sectors. Through these engagements, the Bureau showcased Kaohsiung’s rural tourism highlights, which combine ecology, culture, and food and agricultural education, as well as the city’s achievements in sixth-sector industrialization. The event successfully generated strong interest in Kaohsiung’s rural tourism among Malaysian tourism and media.
The Agriculture Bureau noted that Malaysia is one of Southeast Asia’s key tourism markets and has actively promoted rural tourism, food and agricultural education, and sustainable travel development in recent years. These initiatives closely align with Kaohsiung’s vision for leisure agriculture and experiential rural tourism. To encourage more international visitors to travel to Kaohsiung, the delegation met with major organizations including the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), the Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA), and AirAsia. The delegation also exchanged ideas with local tourism operators on future collaboration opportunities, including rural tourism product development, immersive countryside experiences for international visitors.
The promotion campaign centered on the theme of “Kaohsiung Agricultural Tourism,” presenting an alternative to conventional sightseeing by highlighting immersive experiences that combine natural ecology, local culture, and agricultural heritage. Featured tourism products included the sustainable fisheries experience at Xingang Community in Yongan, the banana circular economy demonstration site at Qishan Sugar Refinery Community, Indigenous cultural experiences at Sunlight Xiaolin Community in Shanlin, and the native mountain tea industry in Xinfa Community, Liugui. Through fruit-picking activities, farm-to-table dining experiences, food and agricultural education programs, and hands-on DIY workshops, the event showcased the diversity and authenticity of Kaohsiung’s rural tourism offerings while allowing visitors to gain a deeper appreciation of local agricultural lifestyles and community culture.
In addition to its experiential tourism products, the event featured a selection of premium local souvenirs from Kaohsiung that attracted considerable attention. Featured products included native mountain tea products from Xinfa Community in Liugui, Banana Lemon Drip Bag Coffee, Banana Oolong Tea, the Jin Qishan ESG Sustainable Gift Box, Jiankang Pineapple Cakes from Yuanfu Community in Qishan, as well as Passion Fruit Cheese Pineapple Cakes and Native Black Tea Kumquat Financiers developed using locally sourced agricultural ingredients. These products highlighted the achievements of Kaohsiung’s rural revitalization initiatives and sixth-sector agricultural development.
The Agriculture Bureau emphasized that Kaohsiung has actively promoted agricultural transformation and upgrading in recent years by integrating production, processing, and service sectors. Through agricultural branding, value-added product development, and the integration of rural tourism resources, the city has established an innovative agricultural model that balances economic growth with sustainability. Products such as Liugui’s native mountain tea, Qishan’s banana upcycling products, and specialty goods developed by rural communities demonstrate Kaohsiung’s agricultural innovation while reflecting its commitment to environmental sustainability and rural regeneration.
Director of the Kaohsiung City Government Agriculture Bureau stated that Kaohsiung possesses abundant and diverse agricultural resources, ranging from tropical fruits and specialty mountain tea industries to rural tourism and food and agricultural education. These sectors offer significant potential for international development. Malaysia is not only an important New Southbound Policy partner for Kaohsiung but also a key market for promoting agri-tourism. Through this exchange and promotional visit, the Agriculture Bureau aims to deepen industrial cooperation, expand tourism opportunities, and attract more international travelers to Kaohsiung’s rural areas. Visitors are encouraged to experience Kaohsiung’s unique agricultural culture, mountain and sea landscapes, creating new opportunities for both agriculture and tourism.
