UNITED DAILY NEWS, RADIO TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL (Taiwan)
TAIPEI - “Just by smelling it, I can tell where it comes from and what its quality is...” This unique touch of boastfulness comes from You Qi-Cheng, who runs condom manufacturer Fuji Latex.
Mr. You's claim of olfactory prowess quickly circualated on the Chinese Internet, after the recent announcement of the opening of a condom museum in Taiwan, the United Daily News reported.
The new museum, which will open in April, is the result of the New Taipei City government’s policy against deindustrialization. The government wants to promote “factory tourism.”
Over the past decade, Taiwan has seen many of its manufacturers delocalize to Mainland China. When Fuji Latex announced its intention to close its Taiwan factory and to move to China, New Taipei City intervened and convinced Mr. You to transform his factory into a working museum.
“Intellectually-stimulating sightseeing is the new trend in tourism development,” You said. Not only will visitors be able to visit the workings of the condom factory, they will be able to learn about the history of the condom, its evolution the invention of this piece of rubber, its evolution, as well as contraception and sex education. There will also be a “hands-on area” for visitors, according to Radio Taiwan International.
Mr. You has come a long way. “Things were pretty complicated when I started this business 40 years ago. Other people were allowed to get good locations for their businesses whereas my firm was considered to be of a highly sensitive nature and was only allowed to operate discreetly 30 meters away from the main road. I also had to make personal sacrifices – I could only have two children although I would have loved to have more. After all, I didn’t want people to tease me that the protection I was selling couldn’t protect me.”
