Taiwan to U.S. travel nears pre-COVID levels, up 84%: MOTC

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Brenda Tang, president of the Discover America Committee in Taiwan, revealed on Tuesday (Dec. 12) that U.S. travel from Taiwan has rebounded to 84% of pre-pandemic levels, as per data from the Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC).

According to the committee, from January to October this year, the number of Taiwanese travelers heading to the United States surged by 185% compared to the same period last year, reaching 396,913, as reported by the National Travel and Tourism Office (NTTO).

During this year's peak summer travel season, U.S. flights achieved an average load factor of over 90%. Even during the off-peak months of September and October, load factors remained high at a minimum of 85%. Seats for the upcoming Lunar New Year are in high demand, surpassing availability.

Tang noted that flights by China Airlines and EVA Airways have nearly returned to their pre-pandemic levels, with Starlux Airlines launching its San Francisco route soon.

United Airlines plans to double its Taipei to San Francisco flights to twice daily by the end of October, and Delta Air Lines is preparing to commence a Taipei to Seattle route by June next year.

With increased activity and connections, tour package prices to the U.S. for the first quarter of next year and the Lunar New Year peak season are expected to rise by a controlled 25%, with the possibility of prices remaining stable to provide price assurance amid growing demand.