U.S. influencer Vik White promotes Taiwan with dance moves in Taipei

Taipei/Los Angeles, April 14 (CNA) Social media influencer Vik White joined fellow American dancers Fik-Shun Stegall and Lauren Gibson earlier this month to film a series of dance videos across Taiwan, which have since gone viral.

"Danced everywhere in Taiwan," White, who has nearly nine million followers on TikTok, said in an Instagram post last week, adding that he had "so much fun exploring this incredible place."

The trio toured sites in Taipei, Taiwan's capital city, blending hip-hop choreography with local scenery to share on Instagram and other platforms, aided by the Tourism Administration and other sponsors.

A clip of White and Stegall dancing in front of Taipei 101 had garnered more than 1.4 million views as of Sunday.

Another video, shot on Dihua Street in Taipei's historic Dadaocheng area and incorporating kung fu-inspired moves, has gained over 1.6 million views.

The dancers posted the content under the hashtag #DanceToTaiwan, boosting Taiwan's visibility among younger American audiences.

White, who has over 4 million followers on Instagram, had expressed strong interest in visiting Taiwan and using his influence to promote the country, said Vivian Lin (林宜錚), head of the Tourism Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles.

The promotion was made possible through a partnership with China Airlines -- one of Taiwan's major international carriers -- as part of a broader initiative by the Tourism Administration.

Meanwhile, a related public event was held Saturday at a shopping mall in Los Angeles under the tourism agency's "Waves of Wonder" brand.

During the event at Westfield Century City, people were invited to meet the three American influencers and try traditional Taiwanese night market games such as pinball and umbrella painting, according to the promotional material.

Taipei-based Starlux Airlines and China Airlines offered round-trip tickets as prizes to attract weekend shoppers to the activity.

In 2024, Taiwan welcomed a record 650,000 visitors from the United States, according to the Tourism Administration.