TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Ministry of Transportation and Communication's (MOTC, 交通部) Tourism Bureau (觀光署) announced on Friday (Dec. 6) that international arrivals to Taiwan exceeded 7 million by Dec. 3, surpassing the total of 6.49 million visitors in 2023.
The bureau reported that Japan reclaimed its position as the top source market with approximately 1.18 million visitors. The Hong Kong and Macau markets followed closely with around 1.16 million visitors, both surpassing the 1 million mark. The South Korean market also showed strong performance with nearly 900,000 visitors.
Efforts to expand into North America and New Southbound markets have supplemented Taiwan's recovery strategy. Despite challenges such as limited international airline capacity, the number of U.S. visitors has exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
The bureau stated that the U.S. market benefited from the launch and increased frequency of national airlines this year, along with enhanced safety promotions and thematic marketing campaigns resulting in nearly 600,000 U.S. visitors, making it the fourth-largest market.
Taiwan's tourism sector continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability in the face of global competition for international travelers. This increase marks a significant recovery in Taiwan's tourism sector post-pandemic.
