Tourism 結果共211筆

Taiwan Premier Chen Chien-jen visited Dongshi Fisherman’s Wharf in Chiayi County to inspect the completion of the water environmental enhancement project. The project, which cost NT$175 million, was funded in part by the Forward-looking Infrastructure Development Program. Chen expressed hopes for the local oyster industry to establish a traceability system similar to Japan’s Seto Inland Sea oyster industry. Dongshi Fisherman’s Wharf is an important fishing port and tourist destination known for its oysters. The wharf faced challenges such as land subsidence and pier damage, but improvement measures proposed by Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang received central government funding. The Fisheries Agency has allocated NT$2.068 billion for water environmental infrastructure projects across Taiwan, with Dongshi serving as an example.

Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki made a low-profile visit to Taiwan from November 23 to 25, where he met with key figures including Su Jia-chyuan, the president of the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association (TJRA), and Paul Hsu, the Chairman of the General Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of China (ROCCOC). The focus of Tamaki’s trip was on meetings with economic and tourism-related groups from Okinawa, with no official engagements with Taiwanese government entities. During his visit, Tamaki expressed gratitude to Su for discussions aimed at fostering tourism and economic exchanges between Taiwan and Okinawa. The primary objective of Tamaki’s visit was to explore business cooperation, engaging with Japanese business representatives and Okinawan officials in discussions. Both parties anticipate swift progress toward further collaboration, and an invitation was extended for Tamaki to revisit Taiwan and for a Taiwanese group to enjoy Wagyu beef in Okinawa. The exchange concluded with the mutual presentation of local specialties as mementos of their meeting.

This news story covers the comprehensive submission of third-quarter financial reports by TWSE-listed companies, with Mutto Optronics Corporation being the only exception. It highlights significant revenue changes in various sectors, including the automotive, financial, and semiconductor industries.

Taiwan’s Premier and Deputy Minister attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Yilan County’s first social housing project. The government aims to build 200,000 social housing units in 8 years, with 107% progress expected by the end of next year. The project, funded by the central government, will incorporate a historical clothing factory. Upon completion in 2027, the housing project will offer 395 units and plans to merge with the factory to create a cultural and tourism corridor.

The Tourism Administration plans to launch a new travel program called ＂Golden Years＂ (凰金遊程Golden Years) next year, targeting senior travelers in response to Taiwan’s aging population. With an estimated senior travel demographic of 4 million individuals, Taiwan sees a potential tourist value of up to NT＄120 billion. Deputy Director-General Lin Hsin-Jen expects a 10% to 20% growth in output value, reaching NT＄120 billion, with domestic tours for the elderly market accounting for approximately NT＄40 billion and international travelers adding NT＄60 billion. Travel agencies and hotels are now focusing on marketing efforts and introducing 11 Golden Years itineraries to cater to this demographic’s preferences. Discounts and leisurely itineraries are being offered to accommodate the spending power of senior travelers.

Taiwan’s Tourism Administration has requested a hotel near Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County to adjust its reservation system. The hotel’s online reservation system was found to be in Simplified Chinese and listed the hotel’s address as ＂China Taiwan＂ instead of Taiwan. The Tourism Administration has instructed the hotel to ban the use of ＂China＂ and provide a Traditional Chinese interface. The hotel management clarified that it is 100% Taiwanese invested and partnered with Wyndham Hotels & Resorts to attract more tourists. The appearance of ＂China Taiwan＂ on the reservation system was due to linkages with the Wyndham booking site, which is overseen by China for the Asia Pacific region. The Nantou County Government Tourism Bureau has jurisdiction over the hotel, which began trial operations in August and is set to officially open in January next year.

Explore how Taiwan’s hospitality industry confronts severe labor shortages, with insights from industry experts on integrating migrant workers and developing strategies to meet the increasing demand in the tourism sector.

The Penghu Tourism Department has announced that the 2024 Penghu International Fireworks Festival will take place from May 2 to Aug. 30 in Magong. The festival will showcase drone and fireworks performances, starting at 8 p.m. However, this decision has faced criticism due to concerns of audience fatigue and noise pollution. The festival, traditionally held from May to June, serves as a tourism indicator for the area. In 2023, the festival collaborated with Marvel and Disney’s 100th Anniversary celebrations, attracting over 500,000 visitors. The festival was initiated in 2002 to revive Penghu’s tourism industry after the China Airlines Flight 611 disaster, featuring fireworks performances and flight attendants dancing.

Explore the latest developments in Taiwan’s travel industry as the government implements a cap on group travel to China, sparking concerns among agencies and travelers. Learn how the Mainland Affairs Council is responding to the backlash and the potential impact on cross-strait relations.

The number of Japanese tourists visiting Taiwan has only recovered to 33% of pre-pandemic levels in the first half of 2023. One reason for this is the depreciation of the Japanese yen, but the major concern is the growing cross-strait tensions. The instability in the Taiwan Strait has created unease among Japanese tourists. Maintaining stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait is a key task for the new line-up of top government leaders. Another contributing factor to Japan’s decreased tourism in Taiwan is the rising interest in South Korea, including its Korean pop culture, local delicacies, casinos, and cosmetic surgery services, despite its more expensive cost to visit after the pandemic.

Coldplay’s two-day concert at the Kaohsiung National Stadium has broken the audience record previously held by South Korean girl group BLACKPINK, drawing a record-breaking crowd. However, nearby residents complained on Facebook that their homes were shaking as if an earthquake was taking place due to the gig, sparking discussions online. The Sunday concert saw an attendance of 86,505 people, setting a new high for the stadium. Data from Kaohsiung Metro revealed that 32,000 people traveled to and from the concert at the R17 World Games station, while 11,800 people utilized shuttles to and from the Zuoying HSR Station, representing a 40% increase from the day before. Despite the large crowd, the city successfully evacuated the crowd in 88 minutes on Sunday. Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai personally oversaw the response center at the stadium and closely monitored the dispersal. To accommodate the increased demand, the Kaohsiung Metro increased service frequency. The Coldplay concert also proved successful in tourism, generating over NT＄330 million in revenue.

The Thai government has launched a 30-day visa-free policy for Taiwanese tourists, aiming to increase the number of visitors by 20%. Around 600,000 Taiwanese tourists visited Thailand this year, and Thai officials hope to raise this number to at least 725,000 by the end of 2023. Since the announcement of the new policy, queries about Thailand on travel websites have increased by 30%. Travelers are also pleased with the elimination of visa costs, which can range from NT $1,200 to over $10,000. To further attract tourists, travel agencies and airlines are offering discounted round-trip tickets to Bangkok from Taipei, with prices as low as NT $5,000. Thailand is already among the top overseas travel destinations for Taiwanese, along with Japan, mainland China, South Korea, and Vietnam.

The commencement of visa-free travel for Taiwanese tourists to Thailand marks a significant boost in tourism relations between the two countries. This policy, effective until May 10, 2024, promises increased travel ease and a surge in tourism activities, especially during Thailand’s peak season from November to February. The Thai government is evaluating the impact of this initiative and its potential for permanent implementation.

Taiwanese billionaire and independent presidential candidate Terry Gou addressed the talent drain in Taiwan and its impact on the tourism industry. He highlighted how the lack of qualified personnel has affected the competitiveness of the industry, leading to a decline in domestic travel. Gou also linked this talent drain to the fertility crisis in Taiwan and the issue of female employment. He suggested that remote working could help parents balance work and family life, and called on the government to invest in software and hardware developments to support remote job positions. Gou criticized the ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party, for its failure to propose effective strategies for economic growth and emphasized the need for industrial upgrades to sustain Taiwan’s competitiveness in export-driven industries.

The Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau has fined four hotels in Taiwan between NT＄10,000 to NT＄50,000 for increasing room rates during Coldplay’s concerts on November 11 and 12 at the Kaohsiung National Stadium. To prevent the tourism and accommodation industry from exploiting such opportunities, the Tourism Bureau conducts proactive inspections of hotel room rates. Reports indicate that four hotels were found to have inflated their prices, with one hotel seeing a 60% increase, resulting in a fine of NT＄50,000. The Kaohsiung City Government is making efforts to establish the city as a major global concert destination, with performances by international and domestic acts scheduled for 2023. While these events stimulate the tourism economy and increase demand for hotel accommodations, some operators take advantage of the situation by raising room prices. The director of the Tourism Bureau, Kao Min-Lin, has urged industry operators not to inflate prices during festivals, major events, or concerts. The Tourism Bureau will continue to inspect hotel room rates, maintain tourism and accommodation quality through strict supervision, inspections, and fines, and protect consumer rights and interests.

Taiwan’s tourism industry is facing a significant labor shortage, prompting the government to consider introducing migrant workers into the hospitality sector. However, no specific timeline has been set for this proposal. Scholars and citizens have expressed concerns about potential job displacement and the negative impact on wages for local workers. Calls have been made for more efficient solutions to alleviate employee workload, rather than solely relying on wage increases. Professor Cheng Chih-yu of National Chengchi University (NCCU) emphasized that even with higher wages, the demanding nature and long hours associated with hospitality work may not attract job seekers. Similarly, Associate Professor Hsin Ping-lung of National Taiwan University (NTU) noted that the labor shortage has intensified workload in the hospitality industry, yet it has not attracted more workers. Professor Cheng suggested a cautious approach to the introduction of migrant workers, considering it as a last resort after exhausting all other means to address the problem. He expressed concerns that if the policy is relaxed, companies may opt for cheaper foreign labor, leading to the displacement of local workers and wage suppression. Additionally, the labor market for older workers and women seeking a second career could be affected.

The Ministry of Labor’s Workforce Development Agency (WDA) is evaluating a report on introducing foreign workers into Taiwan’s hospitality sector. The Tourism Administration of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) has completed an assessment report on the matter and sent it to the Ministry of Labor. The WDA is currently reviewing the report and is expected to complete its evaluation by December. Decisions regarding the introduction and number of foreign workers will be discussed in future meetings.

Thailand government announces visa-free entry for Indian and Taiwanese travelers from Nov. 2023 to May 2024. This follows the recent decision to scrap visa requirements for Chinese tourists. The move aims to boost tourism revenue, with 22 million tourists already generating NT＄833 billion in revenue between Jan. and Oct. 29, 2023. Visa-free privileges for Taiwanese and Indian tourists will be enacted from Nov. 10, 2023 to May 10, 2024.

The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) has announced that starting November 1st, mandatory health declarations will no longer be required for those entering or departing China. However, travelers are still obligated to report their health status to customs and cooperate with sanitary inspections. The Tourism Department of the Kinmen County Government has welcomed this policy change, hoping that cross-strait interactions can resume under normal conditions in the post-pandemic era.

KMT presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih unveils a bold plan to attract 18 million foreign tourists if elected as Taiwan’s next president. Hou believes that tourism is a reflection of national strength and aims to counter the economic recession by boosting the industry. His proposed policy includes a 15% increase in the budget to improve infrastructure, such as airports, ports, the High Speed Rail, and the Taiwan Railway. In response to a recent incident involving a Taiwanese tour group in Xinjiang, Hou criticizes the government for not lifting restrictions on group tours to China, leading to privately arranged travel groups.

New Taipei’s annual Christmasland, opening on November 17, will feature stunning light sculptures and kick off a series of festive activities. Deputy Mayor Liu Ho-jan expects a record-breaking turnout of 7.7 million visitors this year. A pop concert on December 9 and 10 will further enhance the holiday spirit. The New Taipei Christmas Market, themed the ＂Santa gift box,＂ will delight attendees with local gourmet foods and tourism factories from December 1 to 3. Additionally, the German Trade Office Taipei will host a Christmas party from December 15 to 17, showcasing an authentic German Christmas village in the downtown area.

Premier Chen Chien-jen expresses disappointment at mainland China’s lack of response to Taiwan’s efforts to resume cross-strait tourism. Taiwan had hoped to lift the travel ban in the second half of this year but has not received a response.

Mainland Chinese tour groups may not be able to visit Taiwan until next year, according to Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai. Despite Taiwan’s efforts to lift the travel ban in the second half of this year, mainland China has not responded. The Mainland Affairs Council has allowed mainland Chinese citizens from third places to visit Taiwan for tourism since September 1.

The Amis Music Festival resumed its melodious celebrations on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9 in Taitung after a 3-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Amis performers took to the stage to belt out their songs and swayed to the beat while the crowds below basked in the energetic music.

Taiwan pop icon Jay Chou is facing a wave of ticket returns from scalpers for his Shanghai performances due to a newly implemented real-name system. Previously, scalpers had been profiting by reselling tickets for exorbitant prices, but the introduction of the real-name system has curbed their activities.