INTA 33 in Taiwan - Kaohsiung Promotes Its Innovations / 國際都市發展年會 行銷高雄
INTA 33 in Taiwan - Kaohsiung Promotes Its Innovations
◎English text by Hsin-Yi Peng
◎Photos courtesy of Chia-Tse Kao, Urban Development Bureau
The 33rd Congress of the International Urban Development Association (INTA) opened on October 4th, 2009 in Taiwan. Its first stop was in Kaohsiung City for this five-day event.
Mayor Chu Chen said in an event on October 5th that with successful projects such as the Love River dredging project and The World Games 2009, the city has created a "Kaohsiung experience" that every citizen can be proud of. She would like to share the "Kaohsiung experience" with other cities and start discussions. She would also like to make the "Kaohsiung experience" a representing innovative example for the management of tropical-rim cities worldwide.
Kaohsiung's success in hosting The World Games 2009 back in July has put the city into the focus light of the international stage. The INTA 33 was in Kaohsiung from October 4th to 6th and in Taipei on the 8th. The INTA is a member of the United Nations Economic Commission; it also serves as a consultant to the European Parliament. The INTA has more than 1,000 members from over 50 nations around the world; its annual meeting is hosted by a different member nation each year, providing a platform for urban planning experts to exchange their experiences, to visit each other, and to interact. Taiwan is one of the founding members of the INTA. the More than 300 people attended 33rd Annual Meeting including delegates from 35 countries. Brisbane, Australia is a sister city of Kaohsiung, its deputy mayor made a special trip to Kaohsiung under the invitation from the city. The deputy mayor's appearance brought attention from media around the world. This year the meeting focuses on the topic of urban renewal, and the main theme of INTA 33 was set befittingly as "Innovative Urban Environments".
For a spectacular introduction of Kaohsiung, the city government designed two tours for guests to enjoy. The theme of route 1 was "History, Culture, and Space Reuse". The guests visited the Kaohsiung Museum of History, Wude Martial Arts Center, and Former British Consulate at Dagou. These buildings are good representations of Kaohsiung's historical architecture characteristics, visitors also get to hear about the historical background of these locations.
The theme of route 2 was "Green Energy, Ecology, and Space Planning". Guests visited World Games Main Stadium, Lotus Pond in Zuoying, and the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts. Lotus Pond is a fine example of the integration of religious practices, culture, and nature; whereas the museum demonstrates the perfect hybrid of urban culture and ecological friendliness. Guests who opted for route 2 not only had a chance to see some world-class green architecture, they also received a first-hand experience with Taiwan's local culture and eco system.
The two groups converged at True Love Pier at the mouth of Love River and end their respective tours with a cruise around Port of Kaohsiung. Port of Kaohsiung has many impressive characteristics; it offers a spacious waterfront to its visitors, while supporting its extremely busy cargo logistics. Guests were accompanied by tour guides providing details of the port's history. Kaohsiung's unique cultural diversity definitely made this a rich and satisfying tour experience.
國際都市發展年會 行銷高雄
◎文／王大衛
◎照片提供／高嘉澤．都市發展局
2009年國際都市發展協會(簡稱INTA) 第33屆年會於10月4日起，一連５天於台灣舉辦，首站就是高雄市。
陳菊市長10月５日出席活動時表示，從愛河的整治到世運會舉辦，透過「高雄經驗」的創造，高雄市民對城市充滿光榮感，以「高雄經驗」與其他城市交流、對話，並期成為熱帶圈城市治理的創新典範。７月成功舉辦之2009高雄世界運動會，成功將高雄市行銷到國際舞台上，INTA此次年會10月４日至６日在高雄舉行，６日至８日則移師台北。INTA為聯合國經濟及社會理事會會員以及歐洲議會諮詢會員，會員約達1,000 位、50多個國家。該協會固定每年舉辦年會，由各會員國城市輪流舉辦，以提供世界各國環境規劃專業領域人士經驗交流、參訪、互動的平台，各會員的領域含括建築、都市計畫、住宅、教育與訓練、交通與旅遊、文化與歷史資產及都市經濟等，台灣為該協會之創始會員國之一。此次年會共有35國300餘國內外人士與會，高雄姐妹市澳洲布里斯本副市長特別應邀出席，並吸引多位國外媒體隨行採訪。本次主題意在探討都市環境的再造，因此該年會將「創新城市治理」作為本屆年會主軸。
高雄市政府特地安排２條城市參訪路線來行銷高雄。第１條路線以「史蹟文化與空間再發展」為主題，帶領來賓參觀歷史博物館、武德殿及英國領事官邸，讓與會來賓體會特色建築與所在地的歷史故事。第２條路線以「綠能生態與空間規劃」為主題，行程包括世運主場館、結合宗教文化與自然生態的左營蓮池潭、以及富有都市文化氣息及生態規劃理念的美術館。參加該路線的與會來賓不僅驚嘆於世界級的綠建築典範，並對台灣風土文化地景及生態環境的營造回味無比。最後，兩條路線交會於愛河口的真愛碼頭，一起搭船遊覽高雄港。廣闊的港區水岸空間、繁忙的港口貨運、配上導覽人員細細解說高雄港的發展歷史，更凸顯高雄市多元的文化特性，與會來賓均感收穫甚豐，不虛此行。
陳菊市長出席活動時表示，高雄以「高雄經驗」與其他城市交流、對話。
Mayor Chu Chen stated that Kaohsiung has created a "Kaohsiung experience" that every citizen should be proud of. She would like to share this experience with other cities and start discussions.
與會來賓參觀武德殿。
Guests visited the Wude Martial Arts Center