TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Taiwan and Japan launched a ferry route between the regions in a ceremony on Thursday, May 28, marking the resumption of direct service between Keelung and Ishigaki Island in Okinawa after an 18-year hiatus.
As reported by ANTARA, the ceremony in the port city of Keelung, northern Taiwan, was attended by several dignitaries, including lawmakers and city government officials, and featured a lion dance performance.
Keelung Deputy Mayor Chiu Pei-lin said he hopes the new service will attract more Japanese tourists to Taiwan. Chiu told reporters that they have prepared many attractive destinations and are looking forward to welcoming tourists.
Ishigaki Mayor Yoshitaka Nakayama said the new route is not just a transportation link, but a bridge for broader development in tourism, logistics, culture, and education.
During the ceremony, Nakayama expressed his hope that the bonds between Taiwan, Ishigaki, and the Yaeyama region—which includes Ishigaki and other islands—will last forever.
The Yaima Line ferry is targeted to connect Keelung and Ishigaki in about eight hours. For the first month after it begins operations on Thursday, the ferry operator will provide one round trip per week.
According to the Keelung Port operator, regular ferry service between Keelung and Ishigaki had operated for more than 50 years before being discontinued in 2008.
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