TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's transportation minister unveiled plans on Wednesday (April 16) to reassess budget allocations aimed at boosting ridership on the Freeway Schedule Bus Service (國道客運), the country's intercity bus network. The announcement follows a successful discount program during the recent Tomb Sweeping Festival, a traditional holiday when families visit ancestral graves.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC, 交通部), Taiwan's transportation authority, implemented a substantial 40% fare reduction during this year's Tomb Sweeping holiday, resulting in a dramatic surge in bus passengers. Officials reported that daily ridership averaged 151,813 passengers following the promotional period. During a recent hearing before the Transportation Committee of the Legislative Yuan (立法院交通委員會), Taiwan's parliament, Legislator Lee Kun-tse (李昆澤) advocated for expanding the 40% discount program to encompass all four of Taiwan's major holiday periods.
Transportation officials have traditionally provided a modest 15% fare reduction during holiday periods to encourage public transportation usage on Taiwan's highways. In a departure from previous policy, the ministry introduced a more aggressive 40% discount during this year's Lunar New Year celebrations before extending the same offer during the Tomb Sweeping Festival. Government data reveals the strategy's effectiveness, with western bus routes experiencing a 21.4% ridership increase while eastern routes saw an even more substantial 33.6% growth during the recent holiday. ★
