Representatives from 19 Vietnamese tour agencies yesterday visited hot springs in Taiwan in preparation for the arrival of tourists from the country after Taiwan eased COVID-19 travel restrictions last month.
EVA Airways and the Tourism Bureau invited the Hanoi-based agencies on a five-day trip to hot springs in Taoyuan, and Miaoli and Hsinchu counties, EVA said.
The areas were chosen as they are less often visited by Vietnamese, but would give tour agencies alternate locations and one-of-a-kind trips for tourists, EVA said.
Photo: CNA
After the government on Oct. 13 relaxed COVID-19 restrictions on group tours, the Tourism Bureau on Nov. 11 resumed a program launched in 2015 to streamline visa applications for people from India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam to attract tourists from the region.
In addition to visiting Taipei 101, the representatives were to visit Hsinchu County’s Neiwan Township (內灣) to experience the Hakka drink lei cha (擂茶), visit hot springs in the county and eat persimmon cakes, EVA said.
They were also to visit a bicycle path along the Taiwan Railways Administration’s Old Mountain Line in Miaoli County, it said.
One of the representatives said that as Hanoi did not have hot springs, she was excited to visit and inspect resorts in Taiwan in hopes of making them part of her company’s tour packages.
Three groups of Vietnamese tour agencies have visited Taiwan since Oct. 13, all of whom highly praised the nation’s transportation system, restaurants and cosmetic products, said Chou Hsin-yi (周欣毅), director of the bureau’s Hanoi branch.
In contrast with Chinese tourists, who often prefer to buy coral and jade jewelry, Vietnamese tourists like to visit Taiwanese shopping outlets, Chou said.
Some groups exceeded their allotted shopping time at outlets while on tours, and despite filling their bus’ luggage compartment, asked to visit markets and department stores to buy instant noodles, milk tea and cosmetic masks.
Since opening borders to stopover flights in June, Taiwan has seen a gradual increase in Hanoi-Taipei travel, adding that waiving quarantine for visitors has only incentivized businesspeople to travel between the two cities.
EVA operates 10 flights between the cities every week.
The airline said it plans to resume a daily Da Nang-Taipei route on Dec. 1.
It seeks to have more than 42 flights per week to Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, as it did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, EVA said.
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