Amid the backdrop of a better economy and the influx of Chinese tourists, the travel industry is seeing booming business.
“Flight tickets for long-haul routes, such as to Europe next Lunar New Year will cost NT$10,000 [US$313] more compared with this year’s prices. Short-haul fares will also increase by between NT$3,000 and NT$5,000,” said Jennifer Lin (林珊珊), deputy general manager of Comfort Travel Service Co (康福旅行社), one of the nation’s biggest travel agencies.
The rise is attributed to the improved economy, as people are more willing to travel after the nation bid farewell to the global financial crisis. That drove up fares in the second half of the year, she said.
PHOTO: WANG MIN-WEI, TAIPEI TIMES
A number of airlines have adjusted their routes by cutting down on flights that are not economically effective and instead launching more flights to China in view of the booming cross-strait travel industry, she added.
Tourism Bureau Director--General Janice Lai (賴瑟珍) said earlier this month that Taiwan has seen a surge in Chinese tourists.
With the exception of early September, which saw fewer than 2,000 Chinese tourists per day because of disruption caused by typhoons, average daily travelers have numbered 2,500 to 3,000 per day this year.
This compares with a daily average of 1,490 Chinese tourists per day last year, Lai said.
Hotel operators also say they are expecting to benefit from more Chinese tourists visiting the nation, especially if individual Chinese are allowed to travel to Taiwan next year.
Chinese tourists have to sign up for tour packages and travel in groups, but the government is mulling relaxing those restrictions next year.
“We are ready to serve some well-heeled travelers that want to come to Taiwan on their own. This will boost our revenue and occupancy rate,” Hotel Eclat (怡亨酒店) public relations director Jamie Lin (林若瑾) said.
Eclat is a 60-room boutique hotel located on Dunhua South Road in Taipei that targets a business clientele.
Lin said the hotel operator will launch a top-class luxury hotel in Beijing next year.
The Taipei International Travel Fair starts today at the Taipei World Trade Center Exhibition Hall 1 and ends on Monday.
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