Tourism continues to recover after the pandemic and destinations are doing everything possible to
reach the
visitor numbers they had before the health crisis broke out.
Taiwan's Prime Minister Chen Chien-jen announced that the government aims to attract 6 million tourists in 2023, double that number in 2024, and aim for
10 million visitors
in 2025.
For that, they will stimulate the visitors by giving them money.
They will provide
financial aid
of NT$5,000, or
165 dollars
, to 500,000 individual tourists.
Grants of up to
658 US dollars
(20,000 NT dollars) will also be awarded to 90,000 tour groups.
This is the entrance to the National Palace Museum.
Photo Shutterstock.
Transport Minister Wang Kuo-tsai stated that the subsidy will be delivered
digitally
.
Tourists will be able to use it to cover their expenses in Taiwan, including accommodation.
For the anxious, there is still no need to pack suitcases.
The government did not announce
when
the plan will start or
how to apply for
the money.
Objectives and figures
The minister explained that the measures are intended to attract more visitors from key markets such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Macao, but also from Europe and America.
The island lifted its entry restrictions in October 2022, following one of the
world's longest border closures
.
The Taipei 101 building is 508 meters high.
Photo Shutterstock.
That year, it received nearly 900,000 visitors, according to statistics from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau.
Most came from Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan and the United States.
But that number is scant when compared to 2019, when Taiwan achieved a record
11.8 million international tourists
, up 7% from the previous year.
What to visit in Taiwan
The country offers all kinds of activities that fit the profile of each traveler.
In the capital, Taipei, a must-see is
Taipei 101
, a 508-meter-tall building, the eleventh-tallest skyscraper in the world.
Another option is the
National Palace Museum
, which with nearly 800,000 ancient works of art on permanent display, is one of the largest in the world.
The collection includes paintings, calligraphy, statues, lacquerware, jades, and much more.
Guided tours are offered in English almost every day.
Mountains and flowers, a picture from Yangmingshan National Park.
Photo Shutterstock.
On the other hand,
Rainbow Village
, a town located in Nantung and known for its colorful houses, is also one of the most visited points.
Nature lovers must visit
Yangmingshan National Park
, Dream Lake and Xiaoyoukeng Volcanic Peak are the main attractions.
Taiwan offers numerous temples, waterfalls, hot springs, markets, and museums to visit.
What other destinations launched similar measures
Taiwan is not the first country to launch this type of policy.
After the pandemic, several destinations took
measures
to encourage the industry.
For example, in the year 2020 in
Sicily
, Italy, you could book three nights in hotels on the island and pay for two.
In addition, tourists received a
free tourist service
to choose between an excursion, a guided tour or a diving experience.
Rainbow Village is characterized by the color of the houses.
Photo Shutterstock.
At another time you could get a free entrance to a cultural place on the island and the tickets that were taken to fly from May had a
50%
discount.
On the other hand, the Indian government
launched
the Dekho Apna Desh project in 2020, an initiative that
returned travel expenses
to tourists who visit 15 places in the country throughout 2022.
Paris and Thailand also launched pocket-friendly promotions for all kinds of excursions.
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