Yuyupas Alishan Tsou Cultural Tribe
Alishan Township
· Culture & Arts
Like many Indigenous communities, the Alishan Tsou Tribe once had a very high rate of young adults leaving for work in the cities, while most of those left in the village were elders and children. Agriculture was the main source of income, but repeated typhoons and landslides damaged the land, making it an urgent issue to help local Indigenous residents find new livelihoods and maintain basic economic stability. The Morakot Typhoon of August 8, 2009 severely disrupted the tribe’s industries, and tourism, homestays, and local dining were all heavily affected. As tourism in the Alishan area was shifting downhill after the disaster, Yuyupas Alishan Tsou Cultural Tribe broke ground on September 21, 2009 and officially opened on June 27, 2010. Located in Leye Village in Alishan Township at an altitude of about 1,300 meters, it has weathered 15 years of market turbulence, the three-year COVID-19 pandemic, and major natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons. Today, Yuyupas has become a new highlight of Taiwan’s refined tourism scene. Its defining features are a high-quality tribal tourism image, elegant cultural travel experiences, and hands-on experiences with local specialty industries. It currently employs 48 people, 75% of whom are Indigenous young men and women. The staff also receive comprehensive labor insurance, health insurance, and retirement benefits, allowing them to develop cultural and creative industries that support economic self-reliance without worries. As a model of local enterprise integrating regional cultural industries, it has become a benchmark for tribal development and a useful example for cooperation between other businesses and Indigenous communities.
