Taiwan tackles downturn
August 19, 2009 by TTRweekly Staff
Filed under News
Taiwan intends to use celebrity ambassadors to revive tourism after catastrophic typhoons wrecked havoc across the country.
Even before nature’s latest blow to the island’s economy, the country was reporting serious declines in visits from Asia. While the impact was mainly blamed on the swine flu virus, Taiwan received fewer business visits due to a global recession.
Taiwan to stimulate travel with celebs.
Even in the Thai outbound market there were serious declines in trips to Taiwan.
From January to May, travel to the country declined by 21.86% from 46,158 in 2008 to 36,069 arrivals this year. According to the country’s tourism bureau, there were 5,983 Thai arrivals, in June, a decline of 30.24% compared to 8,576 arrivals during the same month last year.
The response is to wind up promotions as fast as possible. Spearheading the campaign are visits from popular Taiwanese celebrities such as Peter Ho, Andy Chen, Yang Han and Kris Sheng.
They joined a Tour Taiwan Festival 2009, at Siam Paragon, earlier this month, to encourage Thai tourists to visit Taiwan. The event was organised by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, in cooperation with Kai Yang International Travel and Quality Express. A Taiwanese delegation also hosted a workshop for Thai travel agents to strengthen trade, while the fair at Siam Paragon captured consumers’ interest.
Both events were held in partnership with four Asian airlines, Taiwan travel agencies and hoteliers. The agencies included, Kai Yang Tours, Young Hang Tour, Kuching Travel Tour, Accord Tourist, Taiwan Look Tour and Lion Travel.
One of the largest Taiwan land operators in Thailand, Kai Yang International Travel’s general manager, Teng Yeu Shing, believes Taiwan should enjoy the same success as Japan, Macau and Korea in the Thai market.
Kai Yang International Travel inbound department manager, Thanamas Li added: “There is still very little awareness of Taiwan among Thai people. Therefore, we are trying to advertise and attract Thai tourists with celebrities like F4 and Wang Lee Hom. They become our tourist ambassadors to promote Taiwan.”
A possible incentive is the recent decision by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand to allow visa-free entry for citizens of Thailand, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. To be eligible, the traveller must hold a valid visa, or permanent resident permit, from any of the following countries or regions — US, Canada, Japan, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and States of Schengen.
If a traveller cannot show evidence of a valid visa clearance from the above countries they need to apply for a visa.
For travellers who have clearance they can stay in Taiwan for 30 days. The applicant needs to visit the Immigration Bureau of the Republic of China’s website at www.immigration.gov.tw and register a personal profile online to obtain, in advance, a visa-exempt entry permit, which has to be presented at the airline’s check-in counter upon departure to Taiwan, and to immigration on arrival in Taiwan.
