Cosmos Hotel & Resorts Group (天成飯店集團) sees both opportunities and challenges in growing its business this year, as the nation’s economy is gaining momentum, but Taiwanese tourists prefer to travel abroad, a company official said.
Like most peers in the tourism industry, the Taipei-based hospitality group last year reported a fast recovery in sales of hotel rooms, as well as food and beverage, but still missed pre-pandemic levels by a small margin.
Occupancy rates have stood above the 90 percent mark at its urban Cosmos Hotel Taipei (台北天成大飯店) near Taipei Railway Station and Taipei Garden Hotel (台北花園大酒店) near Ximen MRT Station, thanks to their convenient locations and border reopenings worldwide.
Photo courtesy of Cosmos Hotel & Resorts Group
“The group is eyeing further business growth this year, focusing on motivating international tourists to travel outside of Taipei,” group marketing and communications head Blithe Chao (趙芝綺) said on Tuesday.
Taiwan’s services account last quarter recorded a deficit of US$1.63 billion, mainly due to the overseas travel frenzy, the central bank said on Tuesday.
Several surveys showed that Taiwanese intend to take more trips overseas this year, which is unfavorable to domestic tourism.
Photo courtesy of Cosmos Hotel & Resorts Group
The Tourism Administration has said that it aims to attract 12 million foreign tourists this year, from 6.4 million last year, by luring international travelers, especially those from India and Southeast Asia.
Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, the US and Vietnam topped the list of the five largest sources of international travelers to Taiwan last year, government data showed.
Meanwhile, Japan, China, South Korea, Vietnam and Thailand were the most favored travel destinations for Taiwanese tourists, the data showed.
Photo courtesy of Cosmos Hotel & Resorts Group
Cosmos Group has to fill the shortfall in Japanese and Chinese tourists to achieve its business target, Chao said.
The yen’s depreciation is dashing hopes for a solid increase in Japanese tourists, while sour cross-strait ties weigh on the number of tourists from China, she said.
Japanese media recently reported that travel to Taiwan is no longer an inexpensive option in light of a softer yen and inflation in Taiwan.
Grand Cosmos Resort Ruisui (瑞穗天合) in Hualien County, one of Taiwan’s two officially recognized hotels that offer above five-star services, is seeking to woo domestic and foreign tourists despite the challenge.
To achieve that aim, the hotel, featuring European castle and mansion designs with 198 guestrooms, is creating a mosaic fresco by an indigenous artist to augment its exotic fairytale appeal and respect for Aboriginal culture, Chao said.
The 23,000 ping (76,033m2) complex in Rueisui Township (瑞穗) enjoyed a steady occupancy of 70 percent in 2022, with an average daily room rate of NT$13,557 partly because Taiwanese were banned from travel overseas and craved for escape to scenic resorts, Chao said.
“The room rates might make it [Grand Cosmos] the highest in Hualien, but each room usually accommodates four guests, all of whom can enjoy buffet breakfasts and most of the hotel’s amenities for free, making it an attractive, cost-efficient choice,” Chao said.
All Grand Cosmos guestrooms offer hot spring bath and resident guests have free access to games, gyms, swimming pools and other amenities, company officials said, adding that guests now have the option of taking painting classes guided by the famed indigenous artist.
Nevertheless, the impressive showing in 2022 presents a challenge, as the low season kicks in after the Lunar New Year and more Taiwanese appear to favor travel abroad, officials said.
The hotel is countering the trend by offering discount room rates of NT$8,500 per night for guests born in March, April or May to celebrate its fifth anniversary, as part of a campaign to stimulate sales.
“Many foreign tourists limit their visit to Taipei and bypass other parts of Taiwan such as Rueisui,” Chao said. “We’re working with farms and select shops nearby to reverse the trend.”
Policymakers can help by promoting tourist attractions other than the Alishan National Forest Recreation Area in Chiayi County and Sun Moon Lake in Nantou County, officials said.
The group is tapping into new enthusiasm among Taiwanese for camping trips by setting up Bon Chill glamping facilities in Taoyuan to attract family travelers, officials said.
Overall, the group is positive about the industry and is gearing up for expanding its portfolio, which would soon include a new hotel in Pingtung County’s Siaoliouciou (小琉球) and the return to central Taiwan with design hotel Cosmos Boutique (天成丰閣) in Taichung, officials said.
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