Taiwan is shifting its tourism strategy to focus on quality over quantity, while still aiming to attract 10 million foreign visitors this year, Minister of Transportation and Communications Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) said on Wednesday.
“We want visitors to not only come, but to have an unforgettable experience that encourages longer stays and greater spending,” Chen said in an interview.
To achieve this objective, the government is collaborating with industries such as healthcare and technology to offer high-end travel experiences, including medical tourism and scenic railway tours, he said.
Photo: Taipei Times
At the same time it is addressing cost-related challenges, particularly a labor shortage in the hotel sector, which has driven up the price of accommodation, Chen said.
The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is working with the Ministry of Labor to expand pathways for hiring skilled foreign workers in hospitality, he said.
Chen said that Taiwan’s visitor demographics has changed over the past few years.
“In the past, American and European travelers were rarely seen in Taiwan, so visitors from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Macau dominated,” he said.
However, the number of Western travelers has been increasing, with the US now Taiwan’s fourth-largest source of visitors, Chen said, praising their high spending power.
The minister expressed the hope that “high-end” travelers would come to Taiwan for in-depth tours.
“It is important to enhance tourism value,” he said.
Taiwan last year welcomed 7.86 million foreign tourists, falling short of its 10 million target, according Tourism Administration data.
The top five sources of foreign visitors were Japan (16.8 percent), Hong Kong (15.2 percent), South Korea (12.8 percent), the US (8.3 percent) and the Philippines (5.9 percent), the data showed.
Despite the focus on quality, Chen said the government remains committed to increasing overall visitor numbers, adding that promotional efforts are under way to ensure Taiwan remains competitive in attracting international travelers.
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