TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Transportation and Communication's (MOTC, 交通部) Tourism Administration (觀光署) released data on Wed (July 10), showing a significant drop in foreign tourists in April. Numbers fell by over 200,000 compared to March, with notable declines from Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore.
The statistics revealed specific decreases: Japan saw a drop of 65,169 visitors, Hong Kong and Macau 43,516, Korea 24,734, and Singapore 15,001.
Minister of Transportation and Communication Li Men-yen (李孟諺) stated that the MOTC will enhance international marketing efforts, and the goal of attracting 10 million tourists to Taiwan this year remains the same.
The April 3 Hualien Earthquake (花蓮大地震) has severely impacted the local tourism industry, like Taroko National Park (太魯閣國家公園), which experts estimate will take seven years to recover fully. Additionally, Hualien's hotel occupancy rates have not improved, leading several hotels to close.
Huang Cheng-tsung (黃正聰), an associate professor in the Department of Tourism at Providence University (靜宜大學), attributed the decline in April's tourist numbers mainly to the earthquake's impact, noting that tourists from Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore are particularly prone to changing travel plans due to natural disasters.
Li responded by highlighting special subsidies for Hualien and Taitung (台東), offering NT$1,000 per night regardless of weekday or weekend stays. He also mentioned additional subsidies for group tourists. Moreover, he promised to enhance the international marketing effort, showcasing the diverse and beautiful attractions in Hualien and Taitung worldwide.
