The Tourism Bureau plans to offer incentives to attract international tourists as the nation plans to gradually lift all travel restrictions to contain COVID-19, Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) said yesterday.
The incentives would be funded by surplus national tax revenue from last year, Wang said.
The funding could be appropriated after the legislature passes draft special statutes governing the use of the surplus tax revenue in the upcoming legislative session, he said.
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Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
Of the NT$450 billion (US$14.97 billion) in surplus tax revenue, the government plans to spend NT$100 billion on seven categories of projects to bolster Taiwan’s economic resilience amid challenges brought by global inflation, he added.
The categories include housing and public transportation projects, incentives to attract international tourists, and infrastructure upgrades for the agriculture and fishery industries, Wang said.
“Once the Legislative Yuan passes the draft special statutes, we can begin appropriating funding after submitting the budget plan,” he said.
“Incentives for international tourists could become available before April,” he added.
The incentives would be offered to group and individual travelers, Wang said.
“The Tourism Bureau plans to subsidize overseas travel agencies that organize tours to Taiwan and Taiwanese travel agencies that host inbound travelers,” he said.
“For individual travelers, the bureau is considering offering them EasyCards and vouchers for Taiwan Tour Bus rides. They might also receive a voucher to buy Taiwanese fruits at convenience stores,” Wang said.
The funding, which would be available until 2025, would cover the broadcast of tourism commercials in international media, he said.
“We have seen a strong recovery in domestic tourism, as shown in a dramatic increase of travelers during the Lunar New Year holiday. Our next goal should be to attract international travelers. Their greater purchasing power would boost the businesses of international tourist hotels and travel agencies that host inbound travelers,” he added.
The nation has set a goal of attracting 6 million international travelers this year, 1 million of whom would be Chinese, Wang said.
“As transportation minister, I welcome Chinese tourists,” he said.
“As all travel restrictions for international travelers are expected to be gradually lifted this year, airlines would increase the number of cross-strait flights to accommodate tourists from China,” he added.
Last year, about 850,000 international tourists visited Taiwan, surpassing the 700,000 target set by the bureau, Wang said.
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