The popularity of Taiwan among Filipino tourists continues to grow. In the first quarter of 2023, the number of Philippine tourists visiting Taiwan reached 60,723 arrivals, exceeding 50% of the Filipino tourists traveling to Taiwan in the first quarter of 2019. Taiwan’s scenery, cuisine, shopping, and other attractions. have continued to bring large numbers of visitors. To strengthen the promotional effort, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau organized a delegation to participate in the 10th Philippine TME (Travel Madness Expo) from June 30th to July 2nd. The delegation will see guest appearances from influencers The Poor Traveler, Filipino YouTube sensation, and the beautiful Hazel Quing. They will both share and talk about their latest travel experiences in Taiwan. Visitors of the Expo can also enjoy Taiwan’s national circus performances, taste authentic Taiwanese snacks and boba tea, while also experiencing DIY activities derived from the cultural heritage of Taiwan. The Taiwan Pavilion will provide both fun and tastiness. In addition to visa-free visits to Taiwan, group passengers can also enjoy a subsidy starting at $5,000 NTD. Foreign independent travelers can enjoy a free one-way travel pass for the airport MRT and have a chance to win a travel prize worth $5,000 NTD via a lucky draw. Spend time with your family and loved ones, by enjoying a trip Taiwan with them!

Since the reopening of borders in Taiwan on October 13th of last year, the number of visitors from the Philippines to Taiwan has significantly increased in 2022, growing by 224.85% compared to 2021 (9,183 visitors). Following the Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s well received appearance at the TTE International Travel Expo in the Philippines earlier this year, a Taiwan travel frenzy have begun among Filipino citizens. Statistics show that the number of Filipino visitors to Taiwan in the first quarter of 2023 reached 60,723 persons. The Taiwan Tourism National Delegation for this event consists of 16 organizations and associations from city and county governments, tourism-related associations, travel agencies, hotels, and souvenir shops, with a total 35 individuals. They will participate in the Travel Madness Expo in the Philippines and host a promotional Taiwan Tourism Event in both Manila and Clark to further expand tourism opportunities between Taiwan and the Philippines.

The Travel Madness Expo will be held from June 30th to July 2nd at the SMX Convention Center Manila. The Taiwan Tourism Bureau is expanding its exhibition scale by renting a 144-square-meter space to build the Taiwan Pavilion. The pavilion’s design theme revolves around the globally popular boba milk tea, while also incorporating elements such as the Rainbow Crosswalk in Ximending, the night view of Taipei 101, and the Queen’s Head Rock in Yehliu. It aims to present the most popular impressions of Taiwan, allowing visitors to instantly experience the essence of Taiwan and enjoy wonderful moments of travel in Taiwan!

The Taiwan Pavilion will feature a series of exciting performances and experiential activities. Visitors can experience creating colorful folding Frisbees with the adorable Oh-Bear design, DIY pineapple cakes, sustainable grass weaving workshops, a 「Buzz Your Way to Taiwan」thrilling game that takes you on a tour of Taiwan, and the opportunity to taste the globally popular pearl milk tea and red bean milk shaved ice. Additionally, the internationally acclaimed performance group “Eye Catching Circus” will provide lively performances and interact with the audience, showcasing Taiwan’s diverse culture and hospitality. Furthermore, renowned travel influencers, The Poor Traveler, who has a strong presence on social media platforms with nearly a million followers, and popular Filipino influencer, Hazel Quing, will be visiting the travel expo on the afternoons of July 1st (Saturday) and July 2nd (Sunday) respectively. They will share their unique experiences and exclusive travel tips about Taiwan. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear their insights at the Taiwan Pavilion during the Travel Madness Expo!

To enhance the industry exchange between Taiwan and the Philippines, the Taiwan Tourism Delegation will organize a B2B Taiwan Tourism Promotional event on June 28th (Wednesday) at the SMX Convention Center Clark and on June 30th (Friday) at the Conrad Manila Hotel in Manila. Eye Catching Circus will present dance performances themed “Realm of Mountains and Seas” and “Island Celebration,” showcasing the diverse beauty of Taiwan. Mr. Abe Chou, Director of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau said, “The events aim to foster closer cooperation between industry players from both Taiwan and the Philippines.” During the event, the latest “Accelerated and Expanded Inbound Tourism Promotion Program” will be introduced. Independent travelers visiting Taiwan will have a chance to win a $5,000 NTD shopping voucher, while group travelers will be eligible for cash incentives ranging from $5,000 NTD to $50,000 NTD based on the group’s size and duration of stay. Taiwan airlines are also optimistic about the growth potential of bilateral tourism, with additional flights to Clark being added to further incentivize travel to Taiwan.

Taiwan, with its abundant tourism resources, has recently been highlighted in a report by CNN. The report specifically mentions the stunning and breath-taking beauty of Kenting’s White Sand Beach, the Wanlitong Beach, and the Longpan Park, which have exceeded expectations. Additionally, in the latest iteration of “52 Places to Go in 2023” by The New York Times, Taipei City was ranked 36th, further solidifying Taiwan as a destination for international tourists. These recognitions reaffirm Taiwan’s status as a captivating and exciting tourist destination. The latest, most exciting, and best-value Taiwan travel information and products of 2023 can be found at the Taiwan Pavilion (Booth Number: 33-40) at this year’s Travel Madness Expo. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to explore all the offerings and discover fantastic deals for your trip to Taiwan! By purchasing Taiwan travel products and filling out questionnaires on-site, one will have the chance to redeem exquisite and practical gifts. An added incentive to make purchases and share feedback during the event. Don’t miss out on the travel trend to Taiwan! Seize the opportunity of visa-free travel and immerse yourself in the culinary delights and urban charm of Taiwan. Experience the island’s vibrant food and explore the allure of Taiwan’s cities.

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The Taiwan Tourism Bureau Kuala Lumpur Office and the Taiwan Amusement Park Association successfully staged a promotion conference in the Philippines on June 2, 2023, joined by officials from 11 amusement parks, 6 travel agencies, and 3 airline representatives from Taiwan.

The Taiwan promotion conference was attended by hundreds of travel agency operators in the Philippines, including the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA). The on-site interaction was extremely lively, which is expected to accelerate the efforts to achieve the goal of 320,000 visits from the Philippines to Taiwan in 2023. 

Shih Pi, Chou, director of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau Kuala Lumpur Office, said that the Philippines is important among New Southbound countries. According to the data before the pandemic, there were about 510,000 tourists from the Philippines to Taiwan in 2019, second only to Malaysia among the ASEAN countries. Since Taiwan’s border has been open to tourists since October 13 last year, the number of Filipino visitors to Taiwan has grown rapidly, which shows the high enthusiasm of Filipino tourists for Taiwan. This promotion matched the preferences of Filipino tourists and focused on theme parks. In addition to Taiwan’s night market delicacies, amusement parks in Taiwan highlight diverse and rich themes, which are worth visiting for Filipino tourists.

Chun-Jun, Liao, Chairman of the Taiwan Amusement Park Association, said that Taiwan’s diverse patterns of theme parks have a considerable high potential appeal to the international market. Elements such as Taiwan’s aboriginal culture, hot springs, flower viewing, shopping, and mechanical amusement facilities are all favorite for international travelers. Various Taiwan amusement parks present the most eye-catching and attractive content in this event, making Taiwan one of the top destinations that international tourists cannot miss.

This promotion includes Leofoo Village Theme Park, Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, Janfusan Fancy World, Little Ding-Dong Science Theme Park, Yehliu Ocean World, Farglory Ocean Park, West Lake Resortopia, Atayal Resort, Sun-Link-Sea Forest & Nature Resort, Shangshun World, E-DA Theme Park and more. The well-known brand of Taiwanese souvenirs, Vigor Kobo, also participated in the event together with Taiwan’s most famous mascot, OhBear. The pineapple cake co-brands with OhBear to endorse the good taste from Taiwan to the Philippine market, and invites the Philippine industry to join hand-in-hand in developing Taiwan tourism and business opportunities.

When the news last September 2022 that Taiwan canceled free visa for Filipino tourists, many really felt sad because for Pinoys who had been to this lovely country, it’s really worth visiting over and over again.

But valuing friendship and shared common values, Taiwan resumed its 14 days visa-free to Filipinos to give them the opportunity to visit and explore the beauty of Taiwan.

Speaking to THEPHILBIZNEWS, Abe Chou, Director of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau for Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia and Brunei said, “More than being neighbors, Taiwan and Philippines have many common traits. You Filipinos love to smile and are very friendly, and we Taiwanese are like that.”

“And to many Filipino tourists who have been to Taiwan, what reminds them about our country during their visit is that they never felt alienated because we show care, courtesy, and friendliness to our visitors and make them feel at home, regardless of where they come from. You can ask for direction, and we make sure we are there to help”, Chou added.

Exploring Taiwan

When asked about how many days should a visitor spend to enjoy Taiwan, Chou suggested 5 days and 4 nights for the first timer.

“Normally, visitors just spend time in Taipei, which is understandable. But there are other beautiful attractions outside Taipei like in Taichung, Kaohsiung, New Taipei to name a few. Depending on one’s interest say nature, modern buildings, historical places and culinary adventure. Taiwan has many attractions to offer for both first-timers and returning visitors”, he said.

“From Taoyuan International Airport, there is MRT that connects to Taipei and most visitors preferred the location to book their accommodation being in the center. Then from Taipei, visitors can plan their tour according to their own liking. Food adventure is always preferred because Taiwanese food has a lot of variation and even in night markets, visitors feast on the street foods in Taiwan”, he added.

“If you love nature or biking, Taiwan offers that, and we make sure to cater to the varying interests of our guests. If you want to dive or enjoy the beach, we have places outside Taipei. If it is mountain trekking or nature sightseeing, you can have that too”, Chou said.

“We welcome Filipinos and other foreigners living in the Philippines to visit Taiwan. Experience our hospitality and friendliness. For Filipino friends, we welcome you with visa free so you can enjoy your much-deserved break in Taiwan”, Chou concluded.

For more info on Taiwan travel packages and promos, visit the Taiwan Hall at the 30th Travel Tour Expo 2023, SMX Convention Center in Pasay City from February 4 to 5.

Since lifting all entry restrictions last October 13^, and granting Filipino tourists visa-free access, the number of arrivals grew sharply, reaching 29,831 in 2022, up 224.85% from 9,183 visitors in 2021. In order to attract tourists to Taiwan as quickly as possible, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau has expanded the booth area to 180 square centimeters, practically doubling the size compared to the past. The Taiwan Hall will exceed your imagination. Elements including Ximending’s Rainbow Six Crossing, Taipei 101’s night view, and Alishan Forest Railway, Hydrangea Season in Wuling Farm, Taichung are combined to showcase the most popular images of Taiwan, so that you can check in immediately, and enjoy the amazing moments of traveling in Taiwan! In addition, a series of wonderful performances and experiential activities will take place on-site too.

On the other hand, Taiwan will also welcome tourists at The Kuo Yuan Yu Museum of Cake and Pastry’s color-your-own Taiwan-shaped OhBear cookies, and Vigor Kobo’s DIY your-own pineapple cake, are activities designed to interact with the public to make their own Taiwanese delicacies so that visitors who come to the Expo can experience the authentic tastes of Taiwan for themselves! The award-winning “Fun To Art” will take the stage depicting the lively and rich cultural atmosphere of Taiwan’s mountains, Michelin meals, cultural festivals, etc. through their exciting dances, taking you to Taiwan in a split second!

Taiwan Hall offers more than just diverse experiential activities. Superstar Gabbi Garcia, the first Taiwan Tourism Ambassador to the Philippines market, will appear at the TTE too. Gabbi, who is an actress, songstress, host, model and internet celebrity, with more than 13.8 million fan followers, actively promoted the delicious Taiwanese foods and beautiful sceneries during the Covid period on her social media accounts, will participate in “My favorite Ximending (我最喜歡西門町)”, an event promoting Taiwan tourism. So, supporters who want to find out about Gabbi’s ways to sightseeing, must not miss the Taiwan Hall in this year’s TTE. 

This delegation in addition to attending the TTE, will also hold a Taiwan Workshop on February 3 at the Conrad Manila Hotel in Manila and February 7 at the Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu in Cebu respectively. The aim is to forge closer bilateral cooperation for operators of both sides through Travel Marts and Travel Product Briefings, so that the Philippine public can find out more about the exciting and many-faceted Taiwan. Taiwan has tremendous resources for tourism. In a recent report, CNN Travel named Kenting Basha Bay, Wanlitong Beach and Longpan Park are some of the most underrated tourist hotspots. This a testimonial that Taiwan is worthwhile to visit, time and time again.

The latest, the most interesting, the best-priced Taiwan travel information and products are available at the Taiwan Hall (Booth No. 415-419, 432-436, 437-441, 454-458) at the PTAA 30^th Travel Tour Expo 2023! Receive a special gift for free by purchasing any Taiwan travel product and completing a questionnaire on-site! Don’t miss out on the trending visit-Taiwan-now, and take advantage of the visa-free opportunity, and come to experience Taiwan’s flower seasons, city attractions and more.