Mao Chi-kuo said he has demanded further repairs so that the highway can be used by 22-seater buses that can boost the tourist trade in the Alishan area, which fell victim to Typhoon Morakot that battered southern Taiwan with massive flooding and landslides in early August.

Earlier in the day, a ceremony was held at Chiayi County's Chukou village, the starting point of the Alishan Highway - also known as Highway No. 18 - to mark the road's re-opening after over eight weeks of restoration work.

Also that day, the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications launched a free shuttle bus service on the highway, using nine-seater mini-vans running every 30 minutes to take tourists to the recreation area.

The buses will stop at the Chiayi Station of the High-Speed Railway, the Chiayi Railway Station, Xiding, Shizhao, Longtou and Fenchihu. Those who want to use the service will need to book at least three days in advance using the toll-free number 0800-210-589, the bureau said.

Asked when the highway will be re-opened to large coaches, Mao said only that "safety comes above all" and that large vehicles will not be allowed to use the road until it is safe to do so.

Chiayi Magistrate Chen Ming-wen has described the Alishan area as the county's most important economic lifeline. The road closure meant that tourists were unable to visit and even the transportation of agricultural products was affected, he said.

"Prices at the Fenchihu Hotel, which was once so popular it was difficult to get a room, are down 90 percent, " one traveler from Taichung surnamed Chen noted.

Chen drove to Fenchihu, a popular Alishan tourist destination, along with his wife and four friends Friday, the first day the road was opened.

Rooms were as cheap as NT$280 per night, according to Chen's wife. Besides, the condition of the road is very good and the landscape of Alishan is the same as it ever was - "beyond perfect! " Chen said.

The re-opening of the road was not just good news for local tourists, but also those from China, who regard Alishan as one of the must-visit sightseeing spots in Taiwan.