TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The chairman of Fubon Group (富邦集團) challenged the notion that typhoon holidays solely harm the economy during a statement on Friday (Oct. 4). Lin Po-feng (林伯豐), chairman of The "Third Wednesday Club" (三三會), estimated Taiwan loses at least NT$31.5 billion for each typhoon holiday.
Daniel Tsai (蔡明忠), chairman of Fubon Group, humorously countered this by noting that Lin's calculation uses simple math, dividing annual output by 365 days. He pointed to packed KTV bookings and bustling department store anniversary sales as evidence of ongoing economic activity during typhoon days.
Given the unpredictable nature of meteorological data, Tsai emphasized the difficulty local leaders face in deciding whether to declare a typhoon holiday.
He praised Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁) for extending a four-day holiday, allowing citizens time to recover and organize their homes after the typhoon's impact.
Understanding the cautious approach of local leaders regarding typhoon holidays, Tsai expressed his acceptance of the government's decision as a Taipei resident.
