Travelers planning a fall or winter getaway to Japan or South Korea might need to budget slightly more for their trips, due to an increase in tour fees, the Travel Quality Assurance Association said yesterday.
The association made public its estimated “reasonable price” for tour groups heading to different destinations from October to December.
The estimate for Japan tour groups during these months is up by NT$2,000 compared with the same time last year, because of a rise in tour bus charges and a consumption tax. Compared with September, tour fees could rise by NT$2,000 to NT$4,500 because tourists are expected to flock to Japan to see maple trees during the fall months.
Travelers heading to South Korea should expect increases in tour fees as well, with people heading to Seoul expected to pay NT$3,000 to NT$4,000 more in tour fees compared with last year, while those heading to Jeju Island can expect to pay NT$2,000 to NT$3,000 more this year.
The association said that more South Korean tourists travel to Taiwan, which in turn reduces airline seats available for returning Taiwanese tourists and increases the flight fare.
Meanwhile, the Asian Games in Incheon, the Lions Club Conference and an increase in tourists on incentive tours all help raise costs for accommodation and flight tickets, it said.
By contrast, tour fees to the US between October and December are expected to drop by between NT$1,000 and NT$5,000 compared with last year.
Chen Chung-ming (陳崇銘), a Lion Travel manager who monitors the North American tour market for the association, said an increase in flights to the US by different carriers helps lower fares. A simultaneous decrease was also seen in tour bus fares and accommodation costs in the US, he said.
Chen said that several travel agencies have started organizing tour groups for fans of Taiwanese-American basketball player Jeremy Lin (林書豪), who was recently traded from the Houston Rockets to the Los Angeles Lakers. Because there are more flights to Los Angeles, Chen said it helps hold the fees for a seven-day tour to between NT$42,000 and NT$45,000.
Charges for tours to Thailand and Malaysia, on the other hand, are about the same as last year.
While South Africa is normally in its peak travel season around this time, the association said tour charges did not vary much from last year because fewer people want to visit Africa now, citing Ebola fears.
European tours cost about the same as last year as well, as the continent enters its off-peak travel season, the association said.
Tours to Australia cost NT$3,000 to NT$5,000 more than last year, and tours to New Zealand also cost NT$4,000 to NT$6,000 more than last year.
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