Modern Toilet in Taiwan

Modern Toilet is not a showroom displaying the latest technology invented made for the bathroom. It is a very innovative restaurant with several chains throughout Taiwan as it is popular with the Taiwanese. The entire restaurant was designed to look like a mega wash room without cubicles. Toilet seats are the chairs for customers, a paper dispenser to provide napkins and food served on miniature toilet seats or urinals. Most interestingly, they serve ice cream shaped like a swirl of faeces! 

This is an example of 'Disneyization' in Taiwan where the entire restaurant has been designed and themed to maximise the experience of the people. 

Growth in tourism in Taiwan has both good and bad sides as with any other countries. Taiwan knows of its potential in tourism as has plans to tap on it. There is greater awareness of one's own culture and the realization of the need to protect such culture. In Taiwan's context, it would be the creation of the Taiwan Aboriginal Culture Park showcasing nine of its indigenous tribes by recreating the living conditions of the people and selling handicrafts made by them. This is one of Taiwan's effort to preserve its culture as their indigenous people are unique to them. There is also the creation of National Parks to protect what is left of nature. 

Talking about the tribes, they have dance performances as well. Visitors would sit at their performance and watch it. Often, these performances are cut short to accommodate to the schedules of the the visitors. The part which would interest the visitors the most are performed while the rest would be omitted. This is an erosion of culture as the future generations would only learn of the dance catered to the visitors and not the real significance of the dance. 

Tourism is a culprit in commodifying cultures and traditions. Too much emphasis has been placed on bringing in economic benefits that the traditions of the people are left forgotten. Culture cannot be represented just by a souvenir or a performance. A visit to the house cannot show you their way of life. Plain visits would not allow any deep understanding of culture. The indigenous people see the economic benefits in tourism. They want to improve their standards of living. Some would compromise their traditions and values just to earn more money.