While the market sees moderate traffic from out-of-town tourists, particularly from Kaohsiung and Tainan, Pingtung locals have largely ignored the venue, leading some critics and city councilors to label the project a “mosquito hall” [蚊子館].

Since the new rules came into effect on Jan. 1, builders and haulers have warned that real-world capacity is lagging behind the policy’s scope, citing shortages of compliant vehicles and limited legal destinations for soil disposal and reuse.

The operator spent three years drilling to a depth of about 995 meters, where workers struck geothermal water measuring 42 degrees Celsius. Laboratory testing confirmed the source as a bicarbonate spring, commonly known in Taiwan as a “beauty spring” due to its mineral content.

First proposed around 2010, is planned for a 15-hectare site in Tainan’s East District, within the South Tainan Station subcenter. The project envisions a 20,000-seat indoor arena alongside cultural, commercial, and leisure facilities, with 1.6 hectares designated for public parking. Roughly NT$23 billion will be needed to build the project.

Kaohsiung is doubling down on “going global” for young founders. Starting January 5, 2026, the city’s upgraded expo participation subsidy opens for applications, offering up to NT$100,000 per case and a lifetime limit of two applications to help local startups show up stronger in international trade shows.

The government’s Cross-border Workforce Enhancement Plan (跨國勞動力精進方案) is now in effect, opening the door for the lodging sector to recruit “Foreign Technical Workers (外國技術人力)” directly from overseas.