Tourism receipts, arrivals hit new highs in Taiwan

Taiwan’s tourism receipts surpassed US$11 billion in 2011, up 26.4 percent from 2010, while the number of international visitors grew by 9.37 last year to reach 6.08 million, according to the ROC Council for Economic Planning and Development.

“The two figures have both hit record highs, indicating that the ROC government’s efforts in promoting the tourism industry have paid off,” the CEPD said June 20.

Mainland Chinese visitors were the largest source of foreign tourists, the CEPD noted. The council said it expects even more mainland tourists to visit Taiwan, following an agreement between Taipei and Beijing to allow more solo mainland Chinese visitors—as opposed to those traveling in tour groups—from more mainland cities to travel in Taiwan.

The CEPD added that according to the Tourism Bureau’s statistics, Taiwan’s customs and culture, as well as its historical relics, are the two main reasons why foreign tourists come to Taiwan, while Jiufen and the National Palace Museum were the most popular traveling destinations in 2010.

“Taiwan’s religious activities are abundant and diverse, with well-known religious sites such as Kaohsiung’s Fo Guang Shan Monastery, Nantou’s Chung Tai Chan Monastery, New Taipei City’s Dharma Drum Mountain and Taichung’s Da Jia Jenn Lann Temple,” the CEPD said. “Tens and thousands of tourists flock to attend annual festivals such as the Dajia Mazu Pilgrimage, Donggang King Boat Festival and Tainan Yanshui Beehive Rockets Festival.”

The CEPD said the government is working on ways to better brand and promote religious and culture tourism to Taiwan, by integrating resources from the public and private tourism sectors.

“We have budgeted NT$30 billion (US$1 billion) for a project aimed at enhancing the quality of local tourism, which we hope will help further promote tourism and sustainable development,” the council said. (HZW)

Write to Grace Kuo at mlkuo@mofa.gov.tw