Hotel operators in southern Taiwan are trying to cope with a tourism slump in the area by making good use of online social networks, such as Plurk and Facebook, and launching various promotional offers to attract more visitors. Most hotels in the area have seen a significant drop in occupancy rates because of the Typhoon Morakot disaster in August and a boycott of southern Taiwan by Chinese tourists following a controversial visit there by the Dalai Lama last month. Su Hui-yun, a marketing executive at Hua Yuan Hotel in Kaohsiung City, said Sunday that the hotel's occupancy rate has been about 50 percent recently. In an effort to boost business, the hotel applied for advertising space on Plurk, which provides free online social networking and micro-blogging services, Su said. People who who send the hotel a plurk -- short message -- or blog via Plurk will have a chance to win a free three-day trip to Kaohsiung, according to Su. Kuo Shi-he, a publicity executive at Chateau Beach Resort in Kenting, Pingtung County, said that driven by the Taiwan-made box-office hit 'Cape No. 7, ' which is set in the southernmost county, the hotel was able to maintain an occupancy rate of about 80 percent during the last quarter of last year. However, its occupancy rate has fallen to around 50 percent since August this year. The occupancy rate of Caesar Park Hotel in Kenting also declined to about 60 percent over the past few months, according to Su Man-ping, a senior manager at the hotel. In an effort to attract more business, Caesar Park will launch aspecial promotion drive in November under which guests who stay one night will get a second night free at the hotel at a rate of NT$3,999 plus 10-percent service charge, the manager added. Kuo said Kenting is good place not only for water activities, but also for migratory bird and hawk watching and is known for its natural landscape and protected ecological areas. 