Hualien County's leisure industry has welcomed news that three major areas of the coast will reopen for water sports this year. A ban on ocean-going leisure has been in place since in 2017. But from April this year, rules will be relaxed at some of the county's most popular coastal spots, meaning water-lovers will once again be able to enjoy the waves.
Heading to the coast to have fun on the water tops the summer bucket list for many. It's springtime again, and Hualien County government will soon reopen three main areas for leisure pursuits.
Chen Yung-nan, Hualien Tourism Dept.
The whole coastal region is divided into three parts. We hope that everyone will be spread out throughout the limited area we have on the water. And according to the conditions of the water locally, they can pursue the safest leisure activities.
In 2017 the county instituted the Qixingtan management regulations, which ban the public from going out to sea for leisure. Now that ban will be lifted to a certain degree. From April to September this year, non-motorized leisure pursuits will be permitted in the Chongde area, such as swimming, windsurfing, canoeing, hydrocycling and paddle-boarding. Farther south, between the Liwu and Sanzhan river mouths, some areas will welcome motorized equipment like water scooters and banana boats. Would-be divers can head to Four-Eight Highland at Qixingtan.
Wang Teng-i, Hualien Ocean Recreation Dev. Assoc.
As operators of leisure facilities in the water, of course we very positively thank the county government for permitting these things, especially the diving at Qixingtan.
Lee Chien-tung, Water scooter rider
This policy is great, but I hope everyone who goes out to sea will learn more about how the ocean works and about currents. The more you know about the sea, the safer you are.
Hualien's leisure industry is delighted with the development and hope it will give an extra boost to the area this summer. Meanwhile the government and the public alike will do their part to keep the fun and games safe.
【中文翻譯】
花蓮開放限定海域 可玩潛水.水上摩托車
玩水季節即將到來，不少民眾喜愛到海邊遊玩。花蓮縣府今年將重啟部分海域，從四月到九月，將開放三大區塊，提供給民眾從事海上活動。七星潭的四八高地附近可潛水。而立霧溪到三棧溪間，會開放動力水上設施。趁著國旅盛行，讓民眾貼近海洋，玩得盡興。
在海上享受乘風破浪的快感，是不少民眾最喜愛的休閒活動，而玩水的季節即將到來，現在花蓮縣府要開放部分地區，讓民眾暢玩海上遊樂設施。
[[花蓮縣觀光處觀光產業科長 陳勇男]]
“整個海岸區域劃分為三個部分。希望說在這個有限的水域範圍內裡面，大家區隔開來，各自依據水象的狀況，來做一個最安全的遊憩活動。”
花蓮自從2017年頒布七星潭管理辦法，禁止民眾下海玩水，而如今將有條件開放，優游在蔚藍太平洋，不再是夢想。從今年四月到九月，崇德海域開放非動力水上活動，像是游泳、風浪板、獨木舟、水上腳踏車、跟SUP立槳。往南到立霧溪和三棧溪之間，除了非動力的水上活動，部分動力區還能玩水上摩托車及香蕉船，想要潛水則可以到七星潭的四八高地。
[[花蓮海洋遊憩發展協會理事長 王登義]]
"我們在從事水域活動的人員，我們當然很正向的感謝縣政府開放這些，尤其像七星潭的潛水活動。"
[[水上摩托車玩家 李健東]]
“這個政策是很好，但是要下水的人呢，希望都可以多了解一下海象跟水流。多了解海洋，這樣比較安全。”
業者摩拳擦掌，樂見海域開放後帶來的商機，縣府也擬定相關配套措施，若遇海象不佳，則會禁止下海，要讓民眾玩得盡興又安全。
