(Ipoh) Taiwan tours are unaffected by earthquake in Hualien.

Taiwan tour packages signed up by Malaysians are to proceed as planned.

Tour operators in Perak told Sin Chew Daily that the tour packages to visit Taipei, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Taichung proceed as planned as no travel alert has been issued by Taiwan authorities.

A manager of Golden Century Tour & Travel Sdn Bhd said it is safe to visit Taiwan, a popular tour destination for Malaysians.

Except for Hualien, other parts in Taiwan are not affected by the earthquake, he said.

Nilson Pan, managing director of Waikiki Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd said safety was the priority and tourists would not be visiting areas affected by the earthquake.

“Tours to Hualien have been diverted to other places,’’ said Pan.

Malaysians have signed up for tour packages to visit Taiwan during the Hari Raya break next week.

On Wednesday, Taiwan has been hit by a magnitude 7.2 earthquake off its eastern coast with some severe demage reported in Hualien County.

The earthquake was said to be biggest in 25 years, where buildings collapsed and people were still experiencing aftershocks.

Mint Leong, the Deputy President of the Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association (MITA), said April is not a peak season for Malaysian tourists and the impact is minimal.

She has not received news of Malaysian tourists stranded in Taiwan.

Wisma Putra also issued a statement to state no Malaysians were affected by the earthquake in Taiwan.