The government aims to boost tourism revenue by attracting more international tourists and encouraging them to shop locally, Tourism Administration Director-General Chou Yung-hui (周永暉) said yesterday, adding that a 90 percent discount would be given to Taiwan Tour Bus’ Hualien tour packages next year.
The Tourism Administration yesterday in Taipei held an event to promote rail travel and sightseeing in eastern Taiwan.
At the event, Chou said in an interview that the sector is affected just as much by tourist consumption patterns as it is by tourist numbers.
Photo: Tsai Yun-jung, Taipei Times
Per capita daily consumption among tourists visiting Taiwan is US$180, meaning a US$15 gap for improvement compared with the US$195 before the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
To boost the figure, the agency would divide its efforts between marketing local services and products, and attracting more international tourists, Chou said.
A market survey showed that Taiwan’s duty-free stores “actually offer the world’s cheapest” alcohol and luxury handbags, he said, adding that the prices could be 20 percent lower than those from duty-free stores in Thailand.
The agency would assist local governments in marketing high-priced products at department stores, as well as launch local souvenirs in collaboration with regional revitalization organizations, leisure farms, tourism factories and commercial areas, Chou said.
The agency would have its mascot OhBear engage in the promotion and marketing and seek collaboration opportunities with Kumamon, the Japanese version of the bear mascot, he added.
Asked whether the post-earthquake subsidies to boost tourism in Hualien County would be continued into next year, Chou said incentives for group tours there expired yesterday.
However, the agency would implement two new schemes that are more favorable starting from next year, he said.
First, Taiwan Tourist Shuttle passengers could continue to use the Hualien route free of charge and a 50 percent discount on other routes via electronic store-value cards, including mobile payments.
Second, Taiwan Tour Bus would offer a 90 percent discount on Hualien tour packages, as well as a buy-two-get-one-free discount on tour packages for other regions.
Both schemes would run from Jan. 1 until Oct. 31 next year, Chou said.
Additional reporting by CNA
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