The Tourism Bureau has asked tour operators to remind tourists about appropriate behavior following an incident at a restaurant at Taipei 101.
The incident took place earlier this month at a branch of a popular restaurant called Din Tai Fung. A group of Chinese tourists eating at the restaurant allowed a three-year-old boy to urinate in a bottle in the middle of the restaurant rather than taking him to a nearby restroom. The boy’s urine sprayed everywhere, including on the family’s food, leaving other diners disgusted. For sanitary reasons, the restaurant was forced to dispose of all the cutlery, bowls, and steamers on the table.
This is not the first incident of its kind involving Chinese tourists in Taiwan. There have been reports of Chinese tourists relieving themselves on the ground in public and carving their names on public property.
In response to this latest incident, the Tourism Bureau has reminded the public that public urination or defecation brings a fine of NT$1,200-6,000 (US$40-200). The bureau also said that leaving graffiti, climbing trees, or picking up stones in designated scenic areas will bring a fine of between NT$3,000 and 15,000 (US$100-500), while smoking indoors in non-smoking areas is punishable with a fine of NT$10,000 (US$330).