The Tourism Administration has budgeted NT$90 million (US$2.82 million) to fund tour operators and tourism associations nationwide to host educational sessions for tourism professionals and develop e-commerce management systems.
The funding is part of the agency’s initiative to upgrade the digital capabilities and service quality of the travel industry, while also helping tourism operators obtain sustainability certifications.
The program, which started on Sunday, is to run until Dec. 31, but could end earlier if the budget was exhausted.
Photo: Tsai Yun-jung, Taipei Times
Tourism associations and nonprofit institutions in the travel industry would receive subsidies of up to NT$500,000 for each educational session they host. They must contribute at least 10 percent of the total cost themselves.
The educational sessions should focus on improving tourism service quality, marketing skills, digital capabilities, travel safety and protection, as well as other related issues, the agency said.
The Tourism Administration estimates that the budget could support about 50 educational sessions. The amount of subsidy for each session would depend on the type of courses offered, the number of participants and the effectiveness of the sessions.
Part of the funding would also subsidize tour operators’ performance bond insurance premiums, capped at NT$10,000 for operators and NT$2,500 for their branch offices.
Tour operators currently pay about NT$14,000 to NT$50,000 per year in performance bond insurance premiums.
The subsidy is a temporary measure intended to help tour operators cope with the simultaneous increase in the coverage amount and premiums for performance bond insurance for tours launched three to six months before the announcement of the new insurance policy last year, the agency said.
Tour operators establishing an e-commerce system for the first time could also receive funding through the program, which would cover up to 90 percent of installation costs and first-year service fees.
Travel agencies with five or fewer employees could receive up to NT$50,000, while those with six or more employees could receive up to NT$100,000.
The agency also plans to subsidize travel agencies seeking sustainability certifications or labels, with the subsidy capped at NT$20,000.
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