A magnitude 7.4 earthquake, Taiwan's largest tremor in 25 years, struck on April 3, 2024, and left Hualien County's tourism economy, which normally supplies about 70% of local revenue, in collapse. Hotel occupancy fell to around 5% in the aftermath.
Damage to the main road connecting Hualien to Taipei and the closure of Taroko Gorge, the county's biggest draw, kept visitors away well after the initial shock. Business owners described adapting however they could: tour guide Liang Shiun-chu turned to driving a taxi, while others in hospitality and retail, including Chen Rei-jia, Lai and Howard Yeh, described similar disruption.
The government introduced loan guarantees and accommodation subsidies starting in July 2024, but officials cited in the piece estimate recovery could take five to ten years given how central tourism is to the local economy.