Taiwan was recently named by U.K.-based travel guidebook publisher Rough Guides as one of the top 10 countries to visit in 2017, earning plaudits for its varied attractions, vibrant nightlife and unique cultural landscape.
One of only two Asian countries included on the list along with India, Taiwan was lauded by Rough Guides for its relaxing hot springs, modern architecture and ancient temples. The publisher also noted that visitors can quickly travel between Taiwan’s cities and diverse natural environments, ranging from soaring forests and mountains to sunny sub-tropical shores, on the cutting-edge high-speed rail network.
“Taiwan is only just beginning to garner the attention it has always deserved. Cosmopolitan Taipei was named World Design Capital last year, highlighting its pioneering creative scene, new wave cafes and all-round sophisticated city life, while the country’s cuisine and night markets remain world renowned,” the company said.
The publisher also pointed to the nation’s diverse cultural landscape, noting its fusion of Japanese and U.S. influences with Chinese traditions. “But as the only democracy in the Chinese-speaking world, Taiwan has a unique geography, mentality and identity,” it added.
India tops the 2017 Rough Guides list, with Scotland claiming second place and Canada third. The other countries in the top 10 are Uganda, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Portugal, Finland and Namibia.
Taiwan has welcomed more international visitors in recent years, with the two metropolises of Taipei and Taichung included in the Top 100 City Destinations Ranking 2017 released recently by global market research firm Euromonitor International.
The Euromonitor ranking is based on international arrivals. According to the report, Taipei ranked 14th globally with about 9.05 million visitor arrivals in 2015, an increase of 5 percent from 2014, beating Seoul in 15th place with 8.8 million arrivals and Tokyo in 17th place with 8.46 million arrivals.
Hong Kong topped the Euromonitor list as the world’s leading destination city with 26.69 million arrivals in 2015, followed by Bangkok, London, Singapore and Paris. (KH-E)
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