Nearly 9,000 corporate tourists visited Taiwan in the first three months of 2012, up 26.36 percent year on year and a record high for the period, according to the Tourism Bureau April 7.
Latest bureau statistics reveal Taiwan welcomed 36 groups of such travelers from Japan and South Korea, 28 from Southeast Asia and five from mainland China during the first quarter.
“The result is quite encouraging, and one we believe will improve as the global economy strengthens,” a bureau official said. “Given that these sightseers possess greater purchasing power, this segment of the market is expected to create tremendous business opportunities for the local tourism industry.”
Healthy Japanese arrival numbers were of particular surprise as the bureau had expected a weaker performance due to the country’s flagging economy and ongoing struggle to bounce back from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
The official attributed this development to corporate Japan’s deep appreciation for Taiwan assistance during this testing time, adding that it augurs well for expanded bilateral economic exchanges.
Other contributing factors cited by the bureau include tourist attractions such as Taipei 101, Jiufen old street in New Taipei City and the Taiwan Lantern Festival.
While mainland China’s figures were disappointing, the bureau expects these to turn around in the coming months. A total of 2,677 employees from Guangzhou-based food distributor Infinitus International Co. Ltd. will visit Taiwan in three groups from April 8, with more companies from across the strait expected to follow suit.
“We are also negotiating to bring greater numbers of corporate tourists from other countries,” the official said. (JSM)
Write to Meg Chang at meg.chang@mail.gio.gov.tw