Visa-Free Taiwan Travel Bringing Strong Benefits Seizing Asia MICE Opportunities Using Taipei�s Sponsorship Program and Fine Cuisine

International
Buyers Dress Up as Master Chefs to Win

Limited-Edition
Bravo the Mascot Souvenirs

TAIPEI, TAIWAN -�Media
OutReach - 20 September, 2018 - According to new statistics
released by the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and
Communications, the number of visitors to Taiwan from the countries of
Southeast Asia in the first half of 2018 broke through the 120,000 mark, growth
of 17% over the same period last year. Thailand is one of the strongest source
markets. Since visa-free entry was offered to Thai travelers as part of the New
Southbound Policy in August 2016, growth in
the numbers of visitors to Taiwan from Thailand has been pronounced. The number
of travelers in 2017 was 292,534, double the number recorded in 2014, clearly
demonstrating surging interest in Taiwan travel in the Thailand market. In
addition to expansion of the general tourist market, corporate incentive travel
is another area of opportunity that requires active initiatives. This year,
after sending promotional teams on July tours to a number of Southeast Asia
MICE markets (Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia), from September 18 to 20 the
Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City Government has had a team in
Bangkok, Thailand attending IT&CMA 2018. At this large-scale annual Asia
MICE gathering, the team has endeavored to attract the attention of more
Southeast Asia international buyers.   

 

International buyers taking part in a fun
Wheel of Fortune disk-spin show learned more about Taipei’s Michelin cuisine, and
competed to win pineapple cakes, a favorite Taipei souvenir, and limited-edition
Bravo Kuai Kuai Birthday Gift Snack Bags. 

At negotiations and in a press conference, Chun-Chieh Hsiao, Chief
Secretary with the Department of Information and Tourism, Taipei City
Government (DOIT), introduced Taipei’s diversified incentive-travel sponsorship
program to international buyers, along with the Taipei Double Decker
Sightseeing Bus service and Taipei Fun Pass. Taipei is also now an officially
recognized Michelin culinary bastion, and in order to create deeper impressions
promoting Taipei among international buyers, during the exhibition
international buyers were invited to don chef hats and aprons at the Taipei
stand and take part in a Wheel of Fortune disk-spin show challenge. Using this
implement from traditional culture to create a Wheel of Fortune fun game, international
buyers got to know the cuisine from Michelin’s Taipei BIB Gourmand selections.
In order to win the pineapple cakes that are one of Taipei’s most popular
souvenir purchases, along with the limited-edition Taipei City mascot Bravo Kuai
Kuai Birthday Gift Snack Bags on offer (Bravo is Taipei’s cute bear mascot),
the buyers competed with great gusto, the lively atmosphere making the Taipei
stand one of the focal points of the exhibition.      

 

Chun-Chieh Hsiao stated that as a result of
the granting of visa-free entry to visitors from Southeast Asia, there were 44
cases under DOIT’s MICE incentive-travel sponsorship program last year. This
year, as of September there have already been 47 incentive-travel applications.
Over the past two years 90% of incentive-travel applications have been for
Southeast Asia incentive-travel groups, demonstrating that Taipei City has
become the latest hot incentive-travel destination for Southeast Asia
enterprises. In November this year an incentive-travel group from an
internationally renowned Malaysian direct-sales enterprise is coming to Taipei,
consisting of 1,000 outstanding employees. They will be in the city for a 5
day, 4 night visit consisting of incentive travel and a business conference,
and will stay at famous Taipei hotels for the duration (Far Eastern Plaza
Hotel, Sunworld Dynasty Hotel, Capital Hotel, Fullerton Hotel, etc.). As part
of their itinerary the entire group will visit the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial
Hall to practice tai chi, take in the city’s famous sightseeing attractions,
browse and shop in its commercial districts, and at night sample local snack
delicacies at night markets. It is hoped that this incentive-travel tour
experience will bring new creativity and inspiration to the employees of this
company. In addition, DOIT has specially prepared 1,000 exclusive tailor-made
EasyCards for members of the incentive-travel group, each with NT$200 in
additional stored value. This will enable group members to fully enjoy the
convenience of traveling around the city, and even more fully experience
Taipei’s charms. It is estimated that this group will bring NT$41 million in
tourism-industry value to Taipei City (see Note). The consumption power of
groups from direct-selling enterprises is impressive, and in the future DOIT
will systematically seek to lure such incentive-travel groups to Taipei.

 

According to the “Annual Survey Report on Visitors’
Expenditure and Trends in Taipei” for 2017 released by DOIT, 90% of overseas
tourists who visit Taiwan visit Taipei City. At this particular exhibition, it
was demonstrated that there is high satisfaction among international buyers
with Taipei’s transportation convenience and the overall tourism experience,
and that Taipei City has already established a firm position in the Asia MICE
market. The processing of applications for the 2019 DOIT MICE sponsorship
program are expected to be handled in the period from November 1 to 30, 2018.
Elsewhere, the official opening of Hall 2 at the Nangang Exhibition Center is
set for March of 2019, and the curtains will go up at 5 new international
hotels in the Greater Taipei Area by the end of this year (Courtyard by
Marriott, Hotel Indigo, Kimpton Hotel, Just Palace Hotel, Hilton Taipei
Sinban). The year 2019 will be one of upgrading for Taipei’s meeting/exhibition
hard and soft infrastructure, further strengthening the city’s advantages and
competitiveness.

 

Note: According to the “2017 Annual Survey Report on Visitors’
Expenditure and Trends in Taipei” for 2017 released by DOIT, the average
spending for visitors in Taipei for sighsteeing is US$274.29 per person per
day; with the incentive-travel group in question staying 5 days, and using an
exchange rate of NT$30 for US$1, the tourism-industry value will be an
estimated NT$41,143,500.