Low airfares resulting from the Sept. 11 attacks are expected to climb higher by Chinese New Year, two travel industry watchers said yesterday.
"I estimate ticket price savings will be down to just 5 percent [of pre-Sept. 11 regular fares] by February of next year," said David Hu (胡漢寧), general manager of Everlight Travel Service Co, which manages more than 13,000 group trips per year.
Hu said that airfares will likely return to "normal" if no major accidents occur over the next few months.
Chinese New Year -- which runs from Feb. 9 to Feb. 14 next year -- is prime traveling time for Taiwanese.
"Chinese New Year is the hottest travel window, thus fares will rise as more people head abroad for vacations," said Liao Wen-cheng (廖文橙), deputy manager of Phoenix Tours Inc.
According to Hu, US-bound group travel fares fell by 70 percent in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. Prices since then have rebounded by 30 percent.
For travelers purchasing individual tickets, prices are also quickly rebounding.
"As I understand the situation, all the special flight ticket offers being promoted by airlines are scheduled to end by early December," Hu said.
Travel agents and airlines plan to capitalize on the December holidays, with a large number of expatriates expected to travel between Dec. 15 and Jan. 10,
"During the crush of holiday travel, aircraft occupation rates will be high and there will be no reason for airlines to cut prices," Hu said.
The price rebound appears to be in line with the slow but steady recovery of outbound travel.
According to statistics compiled by the Tourism Bureau, outbound travel in September was down 18.34 percent compared with the same period last year.
For October, outbound travel was off by just 9.46 percent.
But US-bound traffic has recovered more slowly.
Year-on-year passenger travel to the US was down 44 percent in September. For October the figure was down 43 percent -- not much of an improvement compared with the previous month.
Seeking to lure back visitors, the US state of Hawaii is rolling out the red carpet for Taiwanese tourists. Starting from this month, the Hawaiian government is promoting a "Value Pass" program for global tourists coming to the islands.
Privileges under the pass include free admissions, discounts, and upgrades to some 1,200 attractions and local retailers including restaurants, museums, shopping centers and golf courses.
"Taiwanese arrivals will enjoy all the benefits," said Lee Sin (
Last year, approximately 40,000 Taiwanese -- or about 3,000 Taiwanese per month -- visited Hawaii, Lee said. By comparison, October arrivals were less than 1,000.
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