To boost the economy, Taiwan will offer cash or discount incentives to 500,000 tourists in 2023. You can get up to TWD 5,000 (Rs 13,656 at the time of writing) per person.
The package will attract more international tourists. In 2022, when restrictions related to COVID-19 were lifted, Taiwan has been looking for ways to boost its economy since then.
Here’s everything you need to know about Taiwan’s new travel deals:
“We want to speed up and expand the flow of international tourists to Taiwan,” Lin Fushan, director of the Ministry of Transportation, told a news conference.
The program will also provide TWD 10,000 (approximately Rs 27,096) per travel agency for groups of at least 8 tourists and TWD 20,000 (approximately Rs 54,192) per travel agency for groups of at least 15 tourists.
The tourism product was reportedly part of a NT$380 billion (Rs 10,295.31 crore) stimulus package approved through a special act. However, lawmakers have yet to sign off on exactly where the funds will be spent.
Before the pandemic, tourism accounted for nearly 4 percent of the country’s GDP, but has all but stalled as borders closed, according to Taiwan’s tourism bureau. The situation got worse in 2019 when China banned individual tourists from visiting Taiwan. When China allowed its citizens to travel abroad in January, Taiwan was excluded from a list of 20 destinations allowed by Chinese tour groups, the report added.
How do Indian passport holders apply?
- Indian passport holders need to apply for a visa in advance to travel to Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China (ROC).
- Applicants need to show their intention to stay, itinerary, round-trip air tickets, hotel reservations, bank statements, and even an invitation letter if it is a visitor visa.
- However, Indians are eligible to apply for an e-visa if they are traveling with an approved tour group. This usually relates to individuals attending events or events organized by Taiwanese government agencies or certain NGOs.
- In addition, Indian passport holders with a valid permanent resident card or visa from Canada, Australia, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Schengen countries, the United States or the United Kingdom can also apply for a Taiwan e-visa.
