Taiwan's Tourism Rebounds: Foreign Arrivals Expected to Surge in Q1 2024

Boost in Visitors from Key Regions Signals Strong Recovery for Taiwan's Travel Sector

Taipei, April 2 – Taiwan anticipates a 3% year-on-year increase in foreign visitor arrivals during the first quarter of 2024, according to a preliminary estimate released by the Tourism Administration. This positive trend highlights a strengthening recovery for Taiwan's tourism industry.

The agency projects over 2.1 million foreign arrivals between January and March, marking a notable increase. Visitor numbers from South Korea, the Americas, and Europe are expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels, demonstrating the appeal of Taiwan as a travel destination.

January's data already showed promising signs, with 651,078 foreign visitors, representing a 10.36% increase compared to the previous year. This figure also equates to roughly 75% of the arrivals recorded during the same period in 2019, indicating significant progress towards full recovery.

South Korea and Japan have collectively accounted for approximately 30% of Taiwan's foreign arrivals in 2024. Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and India, contribute another 30% to the total visitor count. The remaining 40% of foreign arrivals are comprised of travelers from Hong Kong, Macau, the Americas, and Europe.

The Tourism Administration highlights growing interest from travelers in the Americas and Europe. This is further supported by the launch of new routes by Taiwanese carriers and the introduction of new flights to Taiwan by international airlines, such as United Airlines.

To enhance its international outreach, the agency has established Taiwan Tourism Information Centers in Paris and Vancouver, aiming to attract even more visitors to the country.

January saw impressive growth in arrivals from the Americas, with a 27.33% year-on-year increase and a 16.12% rise compared to January 2019. European arrivals in January rose by 23.09% year-on-year and 11.17% compared to the same period in 2019.

To boost tourism, the agency is actively promoting Taiwan's ecotourism, cuisine, and culture through the use of South Korean endorsers. New charter flights are also being introduced to attract more tourists. In January, visitors from South Korea increased by 3.4% year-on-year, nearly reaching pre-COVID-19 levels.

The agency is also addressing the impact of the weaker Japanese yen on purchasing power by launching theme-focused tourist packages, such as railway tours in Taiwan, to entice more visitors.

To improve services for travelers from Southeast Asian countries and India, the agency has opened Taiwan Tourism Information Centers in Manila, Jakarta, and Mumbai. January saw a 21% increase in arrivals from the Philippines compared to pre-COVID-19 figures.

The Taiwanese government has set an ambitious target of attracting 10 million foreign visitors in 2025, building on the approximately 7.86 million visitors in 2024.

Notably, the number of outbound departures by Taiwanese citizens significantly surpassed the number of foreign arrivals. In 2024, around 16.85 million Taiwanese traveled abroad.