Lodging fines total NT$143.389m this year, data show

OVERSIGHT: An increase in inspections led to more closures or the listing of unlicensed lodgings for monitoring, with 988 inspections in Taipei

• By Huang Yi-ching and Fion Khan / Staff reporter, with staff writer

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There were 1,600 unlicensed lodgings across Taiwan in the first nine months of this year, while accommodation-sector fines totaled NT$143.389 million (US$4.5 million), Tourism Administration data showed.

Currently, 3,270 general hotels are operating nationwide, a slight decline from the same period last year, the administration said, attributing the decline to individual business decisions regarding the market.

Of the 1,068 unlicensed hotels and daily rental suites, Taipei had the highest number at 275, all of which were daily rental suites, followed by Taichung with 195 and Yilan County with 181, the data showed.

A hotel room in Taipei is pictured in an undated photograph.

Photo: Huang Yi-ching, Taipei Times

The remaining 532 unlicensed lodging establishments were guesthouses.

The number of unlicensed hotels and short-term rental suites rose compared with the same period last year, mainly due to an increase in short-term rental suites in urban areas and more inspections by local governments, which led to more lodgings being listed for monitoring or closed, the Tourism Administration said.

As of the end of last month, authorities had conducted 4,054 inspections of licensed hotels and daily rental suites, with Taipei recording the most at 988, followed by Kaohsiung with 666 and Taichung with 480, it said.

Of the 733 fines issued, Taipei topped the list with 204, followed by Tainan with 130 and Taichung with 129, it added.

Of the NT$121.265 million in fines, Tainan accounted for the most at NT$29.75 million, followed by New Taipei City with NT$21.75 million and Taipei with NT$19.16 million, the agency said.

Meanwhile, the number of licensed guesthouses reached 12,872, an increase of about 400 compared with the same period last year, it said.

As guesthouses are typically operated as side businesses using spare rooms in private residences, they are less likely than hotels to suspend or cease operations due to business costs, it said.

There were 532 unlicensed guesthouses registered for monitoring, fewer than a year earlier, the agency said, attributing the decline to more inspections by local governments.

As of the end of last month, authorities had conducted 9,247 inspections of guesthouses, with Yilan County recording the most at 1,945, followed by Penghu County with 1,296 and Taitung County with 1,274, it said.

Of the 277 fines issued to guesthouse operators, the most were in Taitung County at 63, followed by Tainan with 31 and Pingtung County with 27, it said.

Guesthouse-related fines totaled NT$22.124 million, with Taitung County accounting for the most at NT$4.83 million, followed by Pingtung County with NT$2.974 million and Yilan County with NT$2.27 million.