For the long term, Lai said the city should evaluate a 24-hour offshore airport near the waters off the Nansing Project Area (南星計畫區). He said an offshore site could reduce the effect of nighttime takeoffs and landings on urban neighborhoods while supporting international cargo and long-haul routes.

Deputy Mayor Lin Chin-rong (林欽榮) previously said the site would include a rope climbing system, bouldering area, balance-bike and inline-skating practice areas, a parkour practice zone, and a pump track: a looping course with bumps and banked turns for balance bikes, scooters, and other small-wheeled activities.

Kaohsiung is reviewing plans to extend its MRT network farther east, with future routes aimed at improving connections to Jiuqutang Station (九曲堂站), Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum (佛光山佛陀紀念館), Dashu (大樹), and Cishan (旗山).

Liu said the Penghu International Fireworks Festival was once successful at attracting visitors during the slow season. However, after more than 20 years, the event has lost some of its novelty, and recent collaborations with popular IP brands have not been enough to offset wider changes in travel behavior.

The “Friendly Relay Program” will commence on July 1. YouBike members will automatically receive a NT$5 riding coupon when they borrow a bike from a full station, helping free up a dock, or return a bike to an empty station, helping make a bike available for the next rider.

Tourism officials say the added water recreation options should help Dapeng Bay attract more domestic and international visitors.

Music festival Waterbomb, first launched in 2015 in Seoul, South Korea, is scheduled to hold a Kaohsiung edition on Sept. 12-13 at the plaza opposite Dream Mall (夢時代).

The company recorded an operating loss of more than NT$44 million, plus non-operating losses of almost NT$18 million, bringing its net loss to more than NT$62.18 million. It was the company’s largest annual loss since pandemic restrictions were lifted in 2021. Accumulated losses now stand at more than NT$1.2 billion, reports said.

As the city’s concert economy draws more political attention, claims have circulated that local borough offices received “community benefit” tickets from concert organizers. The implication was that neighborhood representatives were receiving ticket benefits while residents were still dealing with noise problems.

The new Tainan-Penghu route would allow travelers in the Tainan area to depart directly from Jiangjun instead of traveling to Kaohsiung or Chiayi to take a boat to Penghu, officials said.