The Ministry of Transportation and Communications announced a new plan to bolster domestic tourism June 8 after the government’s lifting of coronavirus-related restrictions following 8 weeks with no locally transmitted infections in Taiwan.
Under the NT$3.9 billion (US$130 million) plan, individual and group tourists with a valid national ID number traveling within Taiwan between July 1 and Oct. 31 can enjoy discounts and subsidies for hotel stays, park admissions and travel packages.
Individual vacationers will receive a one-time NT$1,000 or NT$2,000 government subsidy for their hotel rooms depending on whether they visit Taiwan proper or its outlying islands, respectively. In addition, a two-for-one discount is available for half-day or day tours operated by Taiwan Tour Bus, while citizens born on or after July 1, 2001, can enjoy unlimited free admission to participating parks between July 1 and Aug. 31.
For groups of at least 10 people on two-day or longer tours, each member can receive NT$700, with the total capped at NT$30,000 per group and increasing to NT$70,000 for groups with more than 15 people traveling for three days or more. The government will offer NT$1,200 per person for groups of 15 or more on tours of two days or longer to the outlying counties of Kinmen, Lienchiang and Penghu up to a maximum of NT$70,000 per group.
The MOTC said it will also provide a maximum subsidy of NT$10 million to city and county governments to aid with planning and launching local tourism campaigns.
The initiatives are expected to boost Taiwan’s tourism operators by encouraging 6.38 million individuals to travel domestically, the ministry said, with economic benefits forecast at NT$23.5 billion. (SFC-E)