Taipei, Aug. 14 (CNA) The 2018 Taiwan International Balloon Festival, held June 30-Aug. 13 in Taitung County's Luye Township, attracted about 900,000 visitors, according to a press release issued by the the county's tourism department Tuesday.
Taitung County tourism department head, Chiang Hui-ching, said this year's balloon festival broke many records including attracting the most number of visitors ever.
Last year only 480,000 people visit the annual festival, Chiang pointed out.
This year's festival also created more than NT$2 billion (US$64.899 million) in business opportunities, breaking the record set in 2012, Chiang noted.
Taitung County Magistrate Justin Huang said the festival invited 39 balloons, the most ever to take part.
On the opening day of the festival 24 balloons flew over the East Rift Valley and was also a record, Huang said.
In addition, the event held eight "Night Glow Concerts," which the festival's website described as balloons shooting flames to music, adding that the flames and the tempo of the music create a symphony of colors
