Taiwan’s premier Chen Chien-jen unveiled a new tourism plan on February 23, 2023, with the intention of luring visitors from abroad to Taiwan. The plan is to receive at least 6 million visitors in 2023 and 10 million visitors yearly by 2025. As a part of its strategy to increase tourism, Taiwan is currently providing all visitors with enticing offers in exchange for their money.
A budget of NT$5.3B (about S$235M) has been set aside for promotional activities in order to accomplish this. In 2019, there were 11.8 million visitors worldwide. But, in 2022, that figure dropped to about 900,000, and the nation is currently implementing the programme to support its tourism business.
This year, the government hopes to welcome at least 6 million visitors, and as part of the payment plan, it will give 500,000 visitors 5,000 New Taiwan dollars (about $163) and 90,000 tour groups 20,000 New Taiwan dollars (around $651).
Domestic and international travel companies will also receive incentives in order to draw tourists and grow their businesses, as the government hopes to use the initiative to draw tourists from important nations including Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Europe, America, Hong Kong, and Macao.
Chang Shi-chung, the Director-General of the Tourist Bureau, made it clear that this year, a variety of promotional events will be used to distribute the allowances.
“International tourists who are given NT$5,000 will not receive it until they arrive,” Chang explained. “It will be stored on an electronic ticketing card, which can be used to pay for food, accommodation, and other travel expenses during their time here.”
