TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) announced on Monday (Nov. 4) that international tourists visiting Taiwan might exceed 8 million by the end of this year. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部) plans to launch various promotional campaigns to attract more international visitors, with current numbers already surpassing 6.2 million.
Chen stated that the ministry will focus on diversifying tourist sources, targeting travelers from Europe, the U.S., and neighboring Asian countries. This marks a strategic shift from previous years when the ministry prioritized nearby nations. He mentioned that if this year's target is met, MOTC will set the goal for 2025 at 12 million visitors; otherwise, efforts will continue toward reaching 10 million.
Addressing tourism subsidies in Hualien County, Chen noted that frequent typhoons have reduced hotel occupancy rates to about 30% to 40% this year. Through continued subsidies, the ministry aims to increase these rates to over 40% to 50%. He stressed that achieving higher occupancy in Hualien would alleviate concerns about the tourism industry's development in 2025.
