Domestic travel in Taiwan remained strong last year, despite more Taiwanese vacationing abroad, the Tourism Administration said, citing higher domestic traveler and guest numbers that outpaced the levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
A total of 79.833 million guests stayed in hotels and other types of accommodation in Taiwan last year, about 14.489 million more than in the previous year, before Taiwan’s borders had fully reopened, and about 20,000 more than in 2019, the latest figures from the Tourism Administration showed.
Of the guests, domestic traveler numbers were up 5.88 percent from 2022 and up 23.88 percent compared with 2019, indicating strong domestic travel activity during a year when foreign visitor numbers were also up 5.6 million from 2022, the agency said.
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Administration
Domestic travel gained strength even as the average room price for tourist hotels in Taiwan rose 11.08 percent to NT$4,660 last year, up from NT$4,195 in 2022, and the average room price for hotels overall rose 7.75 percent to NT$2,671, Tourism Administration data showed.
Whether the figures will hold firm this year remains to be seen as Taiwanese finally have the chance to travel overseas after nearly three years of strict border controls due to the COVID-19 pandemic that dramatically limited outbound trips.
Last year, 11,795,834 Taiwanese traveled abroad, compared with 1,482,821 in 2022, and more than 58 percent of them (6,870,883) took their trips in the second half of the year, a rising trend that could potentially cut into domestic vacations.
Domestic hotel operators also face challenges that could limit the domestic travel sector’s growth, including an ongoing labor shortage in the industry that has prevented properties from opening all of their rooms to guests, the agency said.
In addition, the rise in the minimum monthly wage, resulting in rising labor costs, and higher electricity prices, which rose 11 percent on average in the first half of this year, have increased operator costs that could drive accommodation prices higher.
The Tourism Administration indicated, however, that hotels have focused on improving the quality of their service and marketing strategies such as selling packages that include meals, family activities or guided tours, to improve guests’ experiences.
It also showed diversification in the domestic tourist market, resulting in products and price points that are appealing to high-end, leisure, business and budget travelers, which could help maintain domestic travel momentum.
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