The Taipei International Travel Fair (ITF) opened at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center yesterday, featuring a record 1,500 booths for 111 destinations, the Tourism Administration said yesterday.
With Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, the Czech Republic, Thailand, Guam, Indonesia and 10 of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies among this year’s exhibitors, Tourism Administration Director-General Chou Yung-hui (周永暉) said he believed the 38th edition of the fair would elevate Taiwan’s exposure to international travelers.
With the ending of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tourism Administration has been targeting sustainable development and digitization to promote Taiwan as a tourism destination, Chou added.
Photo: Chen Yi-kuan, Taipei Times
Taiwan Visitors Association chairwoman Chien Yu-yen (簡余晏) said that this year’s expo would also prove that the Taipei show is now on par with other international fairs, such as the world’s largest tourism trade show, the Internationale Tourismus-Borse Berlin.
Chien lauded Taiwan’s tourism achievements, such as being awarded the “Best LGBTQ Trend Destination” by the Spartacus International Gay Guide, and ranking third among non-Organization of Islamic Cooperation destinations in the Global Muslim Travel Index.
Addressing the fair’s opening ceremony, President William Lai (賴清德) shone a spotlight on the attendance of high-ranking tourism officials from visiting countries such as Paraguay, Guatemala and Japan.
The government hopes to further the progress of Taiwan through tourism, he said, calling on cities and counties to work with the central government to improve amenities for international and domestic travelers.
Just this week, the Tourism Administration launched the “Taiwan Tourism 100 Spotlights” initiative with the assistance of 22 municipalities to package Taiwan to international and domestic tourists, he said.
Its new slogan, “Taiwan — Waves of Wonder,” is being promoted across the globe, he added.
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