Department stores, for instance, are planning to launch a discount campaign for a variety of sales items, such as cosmetics and garments, to attract patronage of consumers.

Local county governments are also to offer special tour packages, including discounted prices for accommodation, shopping and meals, to solicit consumers to visit tourist attractions in the counties. Among the most active are the governments of the offshore Penghu and the eastern Taitung counties.

Grand Formosa Regent Taipei is planning to introduce a program allowing consumers to enjoy NT$4,800 worth of meals by spending only NT$3,600 in consuming coupons.

On another front, Tsann Kuen Trans-Nation Group and elifemall, the two leading dealers of 3C (computer, communications and consumer electronics) products, are ready to zero in on durable goods and small household appliances as major items for priority promotion to consumers.

Leading computer supplier Acer Inc. is poised to allow a four-member family to purchase one mini-size notebook personal computer with the shopping vouchers they are granted.

In addition, major hypermarts such as Far Eastern Geant will allow consumers to purchase NT$6,000 worth of products with NT$3,600 in consumption coupons, with priority-promotion items including agricultural products, daily necessities, textile products and electrical household products.

Other hypermarts such as Carrefour, RT-Mart and Wellcome are also planning to offer similar discount packages.