Taiwan moved up three spots to 36th overall in the World Tourism Barometer published last November by U.N. Tourism, reflecting renewed interest in the country as a travel destination, the Tourism Administration said Jan. 26.
According to the latest statistics from the National Immigration Agency, the TA said Taiwan recorded 8.57 million foreign arrivals in 2025, up 9 percent from the year before, adding that the numbers from Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong and Macao all exceeded 1 million.
International tourism revenues totaled US$10.03 billion in 2024, with the figure soaring 11.56 percent during the first three quarters of 2025 to an estimated US$7.89 billion, the agency said.
The TA said the higher growth rate of tourism revenue versus arrival numbers reveals a shift in the behavior of international visitors. Foreign tourists are spending both more time and more money in Taiwan, the agency added.
A breakdown of the statistics shows that U.S. visitors spent an average of NT$75,000 (US$2, 380) for a stay of 10 days, while European visitors spent around NT$80,000 for an average stay of 12 days and visitors from major Southeast Asian countries spent between NT$35,000 and NT$45,000 for trips of 7-9 days.
Another notable trend is Taiwan’s transition from a transit stop to a travel destination, the TA said, attributing this positive development to the country’s unique urban experiences, cuisine and cultural appeal. (SFC-E)
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