FOR Representative Michael Peiyung Hsu of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (Teco), the Year of the Rabbit bodes good fortune for Taiwan’s tourism sector.
This was well manifested during last week’s 30th Traveltour Expo of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association or PTAA, where the island-state brandished its beautiful attractions with an imposing exhibit at the SMX Convention Center.
According to Hsu, Taiwan is targeting to welcome some 300,000 Filipinos this year, on the strength of its visa-free travel privilege until July 31. He is optimistic that the concession would be extended beyond the said date.
The Teco representative, however, articulated his hopes that the Philippine government will reciprocate the same travel benefit to Taiwanese tourists, whom he estimated would only total to about 200,000 by yearend.
The official bared that there are already “78 flights per week” operating between the Philippines and Taiwan, which exhibits and heightens the enthusiasm of both peoples in discovering each other’s attractions.
For further appreciation of its republic’s alluring destinations, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau is currently embarking on a 16-country tour this year, holding 20 workshops in the process. The Philippines was its first stop, where it rolled-out an array of Taiwan’s outstanding cultural and travel products.
Since Taiwan’s border reopened on October 13, 2022 the number of Filipino visitors to Taiwan has grown rapidly to 29,831. Total number of arrivals in 2022 reached about 65,000, according to Teco.
The Taiwan Tourism Bureau also held two tourism workshops on February 3 at the Conrad Manila Hotel in Manila and February 7 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu to forge closer bilateral cooperation for operators of both sides through travel marts and product briefings, so that Filipinos can find out more about the exciting facets of Taiwan.
As shared by Teco, Taiwan has tremendous resources for its tourism sector. In a recent report, CNN Travel listed Kenting Basha Bay, Wanlitong Beach and Longpan Park as some of its most underrated tourist hotspots.