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While unable to comment on Taipei, Singapore is a very interesting case offering many lessons in how to manage and sell a city.
In addition to those factors already mentioned, Singapore - without a single world class attraction, is very good at re-inventing itself with great speed and is now also selling itself as a "clean and green" city that works. It offers ease of access through the world's best airport, ease of movement around the city using one of the world's best public transport systems, high class shopping, many of Asia's ethnicities in a single city, cafes and restaurants along the river, a lively art and cultural scene, vibrant nightlife, interesting architecture and public art, medical tourism, university centre, etc., etc.
It has successfully marketed itself as a destination, as a gateway to the region and as a stop-over.
Some random but interesting facts:
Toronto - 10.6 million tourists in 2007 spending $5.4 billion.
Singapore - projecting for 2008 10.8 million tourists spending $11 billion.
Singapore now as a F1 Grand Prix race, expected to generate some $80 million additional spending in the city. The World Youth Olympics for 2010 were awarded to Singapore over Moscow.
The recently opened Singapore Flyer - the world's largest ferris wheel, will give you a one hour spin for about C$23 - lest one pooh pooh the idea of building large ferris wheels as unsophisticated provincialism, remember it was London that started the current boom.
Many cities have the potential to offer much of what Singapore does, as well as easy access to chewing gum, but Singapore has done it and is reaping benefits.
Another aspect of tourism which is largely neglected is the importance of niche events that appeal to the "people of high net worth". Thus, the top ticket price for F1 racing is generally over $1000. A presentation of the Ring Cycle anywhere in the world is going to attract the majority of its audience, at similar prices, from outside its city of presentation - as it did in Toronto. Tourism, even mass tourism, has moved far beyond bus tours to the CN Tower.
A national portrait gallery in Toronto would probably attract few additional tourists to the city. But if properly designed, located and operated would add to the overall package we offer. The occasional special exhibit of world significance could attract niche visitors from around the world.
Oh, and one more thing, encouraging tourism demands commitment from all levels of government. The fastest growing origins for tourism are now in Asia. About 40 million Chinese travelled abroad last year with over 100 countries having "Approved Destination Status." Canada does not have this status, nor will it ever with current federal government policies. This is not to say, countries like Canada need to accept Chinese actions in areas like human rights, Tibet, etc., but our opposition needs to be handled more intelligently in future.
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