The trial visa-free entry program for tourists from Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines would be extended for another year, from Aug. 1 to July 31 next year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Friday.
The decision to extend visa-free entry for citizens of the three countries was made following a review by agencies at a meeting on April 25, the ministry said in a statement.
“Considering the need to revive mutual bilateral exchanges and tourism in the post-pandemic era, the participating agencies decided to extend the trial visa-free entry measure for one year for nationals of Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines,” the ministry said.
Photo: Yang Cheng-yu, Taipei Times
The ministry first granted visa-free entry to tourists from Thailand and Brunei on Aug. 1, 2016. The program has since been extended every year, with the Philippines added to the list in November 2017.
The ministry said that its project for simplifying visa regulations for high-end group tourists from Southeast Asian countries would be extended for another year until Dec. 31 next year.
Under the project, which was first introduced in 2015, tourists from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos are allowed to visit Taiwan using electronic visas if they are in a group of at least five and travel using an accredited travel agency.
The ministry said it would continue to review and fine-tune visa policies, with a view to reinforcing bilateral exchanges and attracting more visitors while ensuring border and public security.
“We will also continue to communicate with the governments of related countries to improve visa treatment for Taiwan nationals and make their overseas travel more convenient,” the ministry said.
Chinese spouse and influencer Guan Guan’s (關關) residency permit has been revoked for repeatedly posting pro-China videos that threaten national security, the National Immigration Agency confirmed today. Guan Guan has said many controversial statements in her videos posted to Douyin (抖音), including “the red flag will soon be painted all over Taiwan” and “Taiwan is an inseparable part of China,” and expressing hope for expedited reunification. The agency last year received multiple reports alleging that Guan Guan had advocated for armed reunification. After verifying the reports, the agency last month issued a notice requiring her to appear and explain her actions. Guan
GIVE AND TAKE: Blood demand continues to rise each year, while fewer young donors are available due to the nation’s falling birthrate, a doctor said Blood donors can redeem points earned from donations to obtain limited edition Formosan black bear travel mugs, the Kaohsiung Blood Center said yesterday, as it announced a goal of stocking 20,000 units of blood prior to the Lunar New Year. The last month of the lunar year is National Blood Donation Month, when local centers seek to stockpile blood for use during the Lunar New Year holiday. The blood demand in southern Taiwan — including Tainan and Kaohsiung, as well as Chiayi, Pingtung, Penghu and Taitung counties — is about 2,000 units per day, the center said. The donation campaign aims to boost
The Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau audited six hotels in an effort to prevent price gouging ahead of Korean band BTS’ concert tour in the city scheduled for Nov. 19, 21 and 22 this year. The bureau on Friday said that the audits — conducted in response to allegations of unfair pricing posted on social media — found no wrongdoing. These establishments included the local branches of Chateau de Chine, Hotel Nikko, My Humble House, and Grand Hai Lai, it said, adding that the Consumer Protection Commission would have penalized price gougers had the accusations been substantiated. The bureau said the Tourism Development Act
BACK TO WINTER: A strong continental cold air mass would move south on Tuesday next week, bringing colder temperatures to northern and central Taiwan A tropical depression east of the Philippines could soon be upgraded to be the first tropical storm of this year, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the next cold air mass is forecast to arrive on Monday next week. CWA forecaster Cheng Jie-ren (鄭傑仁) said the first tropical depression of this year is over waters east of the Philippines, about 1,867km southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), and could strengthen into Tropical Storm Nokaen by early today. The system is moving slowly from northwest to north, and is expected to remain east of the Philippines with little chance of affecting Taiwan,
RSS