In a bid to boost tourism, the Philippines is soon to launch an online visa application system to make it easier for Taiwanese tourists to visit the Southeast Asian country, the Philippine representative office in Taiwan said.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) said it would launch an electronic travel authorization (ETA) system that would allow Republic of China passport holders to apply for and obtain an entry permit to the Philippines online.
The new system would start on July 1, it said.
With the ETA system, applications and payments for the visa can be done online anytime, it said.
“This is one of several ground-breaking measures that the Philippines is undertaking to bring in more Taiwanese travelers to the Philippines following the announcement of Philippine President Benigno Aquino III that 2015 is ‘Visit the Philippines Year,’” the statement said.
It is part of the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” tourism campaign featuring various themes, from sports adventure and ecotourism to history and culture, lifestyle and entertainment, and music and the arts.
There are 28 direct flights between Taipei and Manila weekly, along with other direct flights between Taipei and Cebu, and Taipei and Puerto Princesa, facilitating access to top tourist destinations in the Philippines, MECO said.
A new agreement on air traffic recently negotiated between Taiwan and the Philippines would further boost the frequency of flights between Taipei and Manila, and pave the way for more direct flights between Taipei and other popular tourist destinations in the Philippines, MECO added.
The new measure comes amid an increase of Taiwanese visitors to the Philippines.
“Taiwanese visitors to the Philippines increased by 37 percent in the first quarter” of this year compared with a year ago, MECO said.
Applicants would have to pay a fee of NT1,100 for the online visa, MECO said. At present, Taiwanese tourists have to visit MECO offices in Taiwan to submit visa applications and pay NT$1,200, it said.
The online application system would be only for tourists, it said.
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