TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A survey released by 1111 Job Bank (1111人力銀行) on Feb. 11 showed that 80.3% of Taiwanese prefer international travel over domestic trips, highlighting a shift in how people view vacations at home. For many in Taiwan, taking a domestic getaway no longer feels like the obvious choice.
Hotel prices are a major factor. In 2025, the average nightly rate in Taiwan reached NT$2,984 (approximately US$94), rivaling accommodation costs in nearby overseas destinations. Short domestic trips often require the same, or more, time and planning as traveling abroad. As a result, many travelers say they would rather use their limited vacation days overseas than navigate the costs and crowds of domestic tourism.
One of the most common complaints is price volatility. Accommodation rates in popular destinations routinely surge during long weekends and holidays, while services and facilities show limited differentiation. Travelers often find themselves paying premium rates for experiences that feel familiar and difficult to justify.
That sense of imbalance has become more pronounced as international travel in Asia grows increasingly accessible. Budget airlines, competitive regional routes, and frequent travel promotions have lowered the cost of traveling abroad, sometimes making overseas trips cheaper than spending several days within Taiwan.
Much of Taiwan's tourism infrastructure also remains focused on iconic attractions. Night markets, historic streets, and well-known scenic areas continue to appeal strongly to first-time visitors. However, for repeat travelers, the lack of new or diversified experiences can make domestic trips feel repetitive.
Hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and commercial districts often adopt similar aesthetics and offerings, contributing to a sense that destinations blur together. According to the Tourism Administration, 90.8% of Taiwanese traveled domestically in 2024. For many of these local travelers, domestic tourism feels less like an escape and more like a relocation of everyday life.
Domestic tourism is also shaped by forces beyond Taiwan's borders. As travel across Asia continues to rebound, nearby destinations are offering clearly defined vacation experiences at competitive prices. Taiwan's international arrivals in 2025 reportedly reached 82.9 million, up from 79.9 million in 2019.
For many Taiwanese, traveling abroad now provides a clearer psychological break from work and routine. Domestic travel, by contrast, often lacks the sense of distance and transformation that people increasingly associate with a "real" vacation.
The dissatisfaction does not reflect a lack of affection for Taiwan. Instead, it reflects high expectations for a place people already know well. Travelers say they want domestic tourism to evolve, to offer experiences that justify both the cost and the time required.
As travel habits continue to change and regional competition intensifies, Taiwan’s domestic tourism industry faces a growing challenge: not attracting visitors from afar, but convincing its own people that staying home is still worth the trip. (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31.70)
