For the first time, the Philippines is on track to become the top Southeast Asian source of tourists to Taiwan in 2024, with 415,635 visitors recorded from January to November, according to the Tourism Administration.
Data showed the figure exceeded the 384,000 Malaysians and 376,000 Singaporeans in the same period.
Thailand was fourth with 356,000 visitors, and Vietnam was fifth with 344,000.
Photo: CNA
While data for the whole year is not yet available, the government agency said that December is peak travel season for Filipino travelers, indicating that the country is likely to top the list of visitors from Southeast Asian visitors to Taiwan last year.
Regarding global visitors, the country ranked at number five, trailing behind Japan, Hong Kong and Macau, South Korea and the United States, according to a Thursday news release.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Administration said that Taiwan will participate in the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) TravelTour Expo 2025 slated to begin today in Pasay City.
A "Taiwan Pavilion" featuring Filipino star Gabbi Garcia and model Khalil Ramos highlighting the charm of Taiwan will be set up in a bid to attract visitors, it said, adding it will also team up with a total of 21 organizations including travel industry associations, travel agencies, hotels and theme parks at the expo.
On Feb. 10-11, it will also hold promotional events at Manila and Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone to promote Taiwan travel to Filipino travel agencies, airlines and media, it said.
The National Immigration Agency (NIA) said yesterday that it will revoke the dependent-based residence permit of a Chinese social media influencer who reportedly “openly advocated for [China’s] unification through military force” with Taiwan. The Chinese national, identified by her surname Liu (劉), will have her residence permit revoked in accordance with Article 14 of the “Measures for the permission of family- based residence, long-term residence and settlement of people from the Mainland Area in the Taiwan Area,” the NIA said in a news release. The agency explained it received reports that Liu made “unifying Taiwan through military force” statements on her online
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck off Taitung County at 1:09pm today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. The hypocenter was 53km northeast of Taitung County Hall at a depth of 12.5km, CWA data showed. The intensity of the quake, which gauges the actual effect of a seismic event, measured 4 in Taitung County and Hualien County on Taiwan's seven-tier intensity scale, the data showed. The quake had an intensity of 3 in Nantou County, Chiayi County, Yunlin County, Kaohsiung and Tainan, the data showed. There were no immediate reports of damage following the quake.
Tung Tzu-hsien (童子賢), a Taiwanese businessman and deputy convener of the nation’s National Climate Change Committee, said yesterday that “electrical power is national power” and nuclear energy is “very important to Taiwan.” Tung made the remarks, suggesting that his views do not align with the country’s current official policy of phasing out nuclear energy, at a forum organized by the Taiwan People’s Party titled “Challenges and Prospects of Taiwan’s AI Industry and Energy Policy.” “Taiwan is currently pursuing industries with high added- value and is developing vigorously, and this all requires electricity,” said the chairman
Actor Darren Wang (王大陸) is to begin his one-year alternative military service tomorrow amid ongoing legal issues, the Ministry of the Interior said yesterday. Wang, who last month was released on bail of NT$150,000 (US$4,561) as he faces charges of allegedly attempting to evade military service and forging documents, has been ordered to report to Taipei Railway Station at 9am tomorrow, the Alternative Military Service Training and Management Center said. The 33-year-old would join about 1,300 other conscripts in the 263rd cohort of general alternative service for training at the Chenggong Ling camp in Taichung, a center official told reporters. Wang would first
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