TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's boutique carrier is betting big on powder-hungry travelers. Starlux Airlines (星宇航空) and Japanese hospitality group Hoshino Resorts unveiled plans Thursday (April 17) for a specialized winter ski charter service to Hokkaido, targeting the increasingly lucrative winter sports tourism market. Starlux Airlines manager Hsieh I-chin (謝亦勤) pointed to last winter's impressive 80% occupancy rate on Hokkaido routes as evidence of the northern Japanese island's rising appeal among Taiwanese travelers.
The collaboration comes amid surging Taiwanese interest in Japanese destinations. Manabu Ainai, Hoshino Resorts' Director of All Hokkaido Region, revealed that visitor numbers from Taiwan have more than doubled since pandemic-related travel restrictions were relaxed. The executive highlighted Taiwan's dominant position in Hokkaido's summer tourism market, noting that Taiwanese visitors currently outrank all other international tourists during the warmer months.
Economic headwinds have created a mixed picture for Taiwan's travel industry. Tang Kuei-chen (湯桂禎), chairperson of Rolisa Tour (湯桂禎旅行社), which serves as Hoshino Resorts' general agent in Taiwan, reported strong first-quarter profit growth for the agency. However, Tang acknowledged that recent U.S. tariff policies have negatively affected group tour bookings for the second quarter. The executive noted that specialized themed tours and individual travel arrangements have proven more resilient, continuing to perform well despite broader economic pressures.
Travelers can begin booking the specialized winter packages by month's end, with sales opening in late April. Hoshino Resorts representatives emphasized the strategic alignment with Starlux Airlines' existing Japanese network, which includes service to multiple popular destinations across the country. Beyond Hokkaido's New Chitose and Hakodate airports, the Taiwanese carrier's seasonal and limited-time routes include flights to Sendai, Tokyo Narita, Osaka Kansai, Kumamoto, and Okinawa Naha, providing comprehensive coverage of Japan's diverse tourism regions. ★
