Two student teams from Tamkang University's Department of International Tourism Management recently achieved outstanding results at the 2026 Campus International Golden Travel Awards Tour Itinerary Design Competition, widely regarded as the "Oscars of the Travel Industry." Competing against 142 teams nationwide, the two teams emerged as national champions in the Domestic Tourism and Inbound Tourism categories, respectively, among 24 outstanding itineraries selected for recognition. After winning a national championship in one category during its debut participation last year, the department achieved an even greater milestone this year by sweeping both national titles, impressing participating travel industry professionals and representatives from related academic departments. The team behind "漫步東海岸，花現好時光" was also invited to attend the awards ceremony scheduled for December, where they will receive their award alongside winning teams from the travel industry.

Assistant Professor Hsiu-Hui Chuang of the Department of International Tourism Management supervised both teams, and they entered the competition with their junior-year capstone projects. "人之島．海的記憶," entered in the Indigenous Communities subcategory of Domestic Tourism, and "漫步東海岸，花現好時光," entered in the Hong Kong and Macau Visitors to Taiwan subcategory of Inbound Tourism, each secured a national championship. Department Chair Shan-Ju Chi congratulated the award-winning students and their advisor, declaring, "You are the pride of our department!" She noted that sweeping both national championships in the Campus Golden Travel Awards was a testament to the students' solid professional expertise and teamwork. She also expressed special appreciation to Chuang for her dedicated professional guidance and unwavering support, which helped students bridge the gap between academic learning and professional excellence.

Chuang recalled telling her students at the outset, "If I supervise your projects, I will be very demanding, and we will spend a great deal of time discussing and revising them repeatedly." She was delighted that the students were willing to accept the challenge despite knowing what lay ahead. Throughout the preparation process, the teams held countless meetings, conducted extensive research, and repeatedly refined their proposals. Every aspect of their itineraries, from transportation, accommodation, and dining to sightseeing arrangements, had to balance sustainable tourism principles with practical feasibility. What moved Chuang most was that the students never gave up, even though they knew that each revision might lead to further changes. Instead, they remained committed to improving their work through continuous adjustments. She believes that winning both national championships was the most rewarding recognition of the students' dedication and perseverance.

The "人之島．海的記憶" team consisted of Department graduate Shu-Ting Kung and fourth-year students Wai Laam Chan, Yu-Ting Tsai, and Shan-Ju Lee. Centered on the culture of Orchid Island's (Lanyu) Tao Indigenous people, the team designed a four-day, three-night itinerary. The students explained that they chose Orchid Island because of its distinctive Indigenous culture, which differs from that of Taiwan's main island. They hoped visitors would do more than simply visit tourist attractions; instead, they wanted travelers to immerse themselves in local communities and gain firsthand insights into Tao culture through food, everyday life, and the natural environment. The itinerary incorporated local specialties featuring flying fish and visits to volcanic rock formations, connecting cultural experiences with natural landscapes. "We hope that by the end of the journey, travelers will have genuinely experienced an Indigenous culture distinct from that of Taiwan's main island and gained a deeper appreciation of Orchid Island's unique characteristics," the team explained.

However, the greatest challenge in designing the itinerary was not selecting attractions but ensuring that the proposed tour could actually be carried out. Kung explained that the team had to verify every detail, from distances between attractions and transportation routes to whether accommodations and restaurants were legally registered. They also needed to confirm accessibility to certain mountainous attractions. As a result, the team revised its routes and continued refining the itinerary under their advisor's guidance to ensure that the proposal was more than just a plan on paper. The students agreed that this process gave them the most valuable learning experience.

The other team, consisting of three close friends and Department graduates Jui-Chi Chen, Ting-Yu Chung, and Mandy Chen, designed a five-day tour of eastern Taiwan covering Yilan, Hualien, and Taitung under the theme "漫步東海岸，花現好時光." Targeting travelers aged 20 to 39 from Hong Kong and Macau, the itinerary featured hot-air balloon experiences, all-terrain vehicle rides, Indigenous cultural activities, and eastern Taiwan's natural landscapes. The team hoped to introduce visitors from Hong Kong and Macau to aspects of Taiwan that differ from what they commonly experience in the island’s western part.

Although the itinerary originated as a capstone project, the students were determined to achieve the highest possible quality and revised their proposal repeatedly. They devoted considerable time to researching flight schedules, transportation options, accommodations, and dining arrangements. They also used Google Maps to verify driving times between attractions, minimize unnecessary backtracking, and ensure that the itinerary was realistically executable. When selecting accommodations, they considered not only prices, distances, and room types but also hotel star ratings and relevant operator information. The final-day itinerary underwent particularly significant revisions. The original plan involved traveling from Yilan through the Hsuehshan Tunnel to Taoyuan International Airport. However, concerned that heavy northbound weekend traffic could cause delays, the team revised the schedule to include a morning visit to Elephant Mountain in Taipei, followed by lunch at Zhuwei Fishing Harbor before heading to the airport. This adjustment was intended to reduce the risk of transportation delays.

Organized by the Travel Quality Assurance Association, the Golden Travel Awards were originally established as a competition for travel industry professionals. To encourage emerging talent in tourism, the organizers introduced a student category in 2022, which has now entered its fifth year. This year's competition attracted more than 500 faculty members and students and featured two main divisions. The Domestic Tourism division comprised four subcategories: Indigenous Communities, Hakka Village Tourism, Rural Experiences, and Leisure Sports. The Inbound Tourism division also included four subcategories: Japanese Visitors to Taiwan, Korean Visitors to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Visitors to Taiwan, and Muslim Visitors to Taiwan. Across these eight subcategories, a total of 24 outstanding itineraries were ultimately selected for recognition.

SDGs #SDG03 Good Health and Well-Being #SDG04 Quality Education #SDG08 Decent Work and Economic Growth #SDG11 Sustainable Cities and Communities #SDG17 Partnerships for the Goals

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