The 20th Kaohsiung International Travel Fair wrapped up April 23 in the southern Taiwan city, with more than 300,000 visitors from home and abroad attending the four-day event spotlighting the nation’s diverse cultural and natural attractions.
Organized by Kaohsiung Association of Travel Agents, the expo featured over 700 booths by 322 exhibitors including local government agencies, travel companies and tourism bureaus from Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, the Philippines, Thailand, South Korea and mainland China. The event brought in an estimated NT$1.5 billion (US$50.7 million) in business opportunities for Taiwan tourism operators, according to the association.
Speaking at the fair April 20, Vice Premier Shih Jun-ji said the government is sparing no effort in fostering high-quality visitor experiences and expanding the sector’s global competitiveness through programs such as Tourism 2020.
Overseen by the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, the four-year, NT$31.8 billion initiative fosters the development of experiential tours, smart services and visitor-friendly environments. Different regions are highlighted annually in the promotional campaign, with bay areas the focus this year, followed by townships in 2019 and mountains in the final year.
According to Shih, the government is also leaving no stone unturned in attracting tourists from emerging markets in South and Southeast Asia. Efforts in this regard include the extension of visa-free and e-visa privileges to citizens from New Southbound Policy target nations, he added.
A key plank of President Tsai Ing-wen’s national development strategy, the policy seeks to enhance Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, education, tourism and trade ties with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.
Also speaking at the fair, MOTC Minister Hochen Tan said the event is an effective platform for highlighting the potential-laden tourism industry of southern Taiwan. The sector is expected to go from strength to strength in coming years with the launch of the new Kaohsiung Port Terminal and planned redevelopment of Kaohsiung International Airport.
Set to open next year, the terminal will accommodate larger cruise vessels and boost passenger throughput capacity to 2,500 per hour. Redevelopment work on the airport’s terminal facilities is expected to commence later this year.
Launched in 1999, KTF is the largest travel trade show in southern Taiwan. In addition to tourism promotion booths, this year’s edition featured cultural performances and talks by troupes and industry experts from home and abroad. (CPY-E)
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