Abstract:

Climate resource is one of the most important natural tourism resources in tourism development. The plentiful climate resources not only have the special landscape function, but also have impact on tourism demand. Climate comfortableness effectively respond the comfort of climate in tourism destination for tourist, and it is the key factor to tourism development. As an island province in China, Taiwan has great potential for the development of tourism. The unique natural conditions, particularly the mild climate, have attracted numerous tourists to come for the leisure or holidaymaking tourism, yet the poor climate and weather such as typhoon have affected the inbound tourists’ selection for travel time and destination. Based on 30 years (from 1971 to 2000) climate data of the central weather bureau in Taiwan province, adopting temperature humidity index, wind effect index and clothing index, the paper analyzed tourism climate comfortableness for 25 regions of each month in Taiwan province. The results show as follows. Taiwan had the long period with suitable climatic conditions for tourism, and tourism climate comfort period could reach 8 months in most areas; the best tourism climate comfort months lasted from November to next March, yet uncomfortable in summer time mainly from June to August with great impact of typhoon. On this foundation, the thesis used cluster analysis method and divided the tourism climate comfort districts in Taiwan province into four parts: North Taiwan seashore inshore island area, NorthCentral Taiwan mountain area, South Taiwan seashore inshore island area and Central Taiwan high mountain area. The research conclusions are as follows.The period suitable for tourism in North Taiwan seashore inshore island area was from January to May and from October to December, and the climate suitability period lasted eight months in a year.The period suitable for tourism in NorthCentral Taiwan mountain area was from January to December.There was no uncomfortable period,and the tourists could develop tourism activities with the longest times.In South Taiwan seashore inshore island area, there were five months of suitable climate from January to April and October to December for tourism. Though, the Central Taiwan high mountain area had no comfortable period,its special natural landscapes had strong attractions to visitors.Therefore, 〖JP2〗some preventing cold and heat preservation suggestions should be given to them. By this study, the paper expects to give a better guide for tourism development in Taiwan province, meanwhile, provides a scientific reference for tourists to decide where and when they should have a trip