The Tourism Bureau is collaborating with the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) to launch a new project to promote in-depth travel around Taiwan, the country's top tourism official said Thursday. 'The Taiwan Tourbus Railway Tour Passport program will offer convenient transport services and tour packages at budget prices, aimed in particular at the individual traveler, ' said Tourism Bureau Director-General Janice Lai at a news conference to unveil the new promotion. Taking its cues from a similar promotional program in Japan, where individual tours are very popular, Lai said the Tourism Bureau has selected 10 out of the 32 existing Taiwan Tourbus lines to be integrated with various rail tickets to make major tourist destinations accessible for tours using the program. The selected bus lines include a one-day tour of the northeastern coastline, including the picturesque villages of Jinguashih and Jiufen, a one-day tour of Sun Moon Lake, a one-day tour of Lugang and the sprawling gardens along the Tienwei highway, as well as a one-day tour of mountain and seashore tourist spots around the southern port city of Kaohsiung. The 'passport' package tour includes bus services plus two railway tickets and a Sun Moon Lake pleasure boat ticket, as well as discount tickets for 19 theme parks and 50 hotels around the island, Lai explained. Sales of the 'passport' were scheduled to begin online at noon Friday on the Tourism Bureau's tour bus Web site at http://www.taiwantourbus.com.tw. The first 1,000 online shoppers will get a discounted price of NT$999 apiece, Lai said, adding that the 'passport' will also be available at travel agencies that use Taiwan Tourbus. The 'passport' will remain valid until the end of this year, Lai said. 