Taiwanese tourist arrivals drop Jan-Sept.
Tourist arrivals from Taiwan to the Philippines fell 14 percent in the first nine months of the year, double than the overall drop of Taiwanese travelers during the period, but still a lower decline compared to the number of Taiwanese that visited neighboring countries.
Latest figures from Taiwan ‘s Ministry of Transportation showed that outbound travel from Taiwan from January to September this year, there was an 8 percent drop in outbound travel or 5,448,114 from 6,590,261 travelers in the same period last year. In September alone, outbound travel dropped by 5 percent or 625,834 from 657,988 last year.
The drop in outbound travel from Taiwan affected many countries in Asia, including the Philippines where the decline was 14 percent or 77,126 from 90,104 last year.
Except for Mainland China and South Korea, other countries recorded bigger drop in Taiwanese arrivals like Brunei, 90.42 percent or 80 from 835; Thailand, 35 percent or 119,995 from 129,286; Macau 23.76 percent or 555,993 from 729,281; Hong Kong 21.57 percent or 1,737,806 from 2,215,602; Japan, 17.39 percent or 849,702 arrivals from 1,028,566; and Singapore 15.89 percent or 111,704 from 129, 286.
To attract more Taiwanese tourists, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei is launching more marketing programs focusing on the country’s rich cultural diversity and numerous tourism sites and attractions and provide innovative packages catering to all budgets and requirements.
"We’re constantly looking for win-win opportunities with our industry partners including airlines, tour operators, destination management companies and professional conference organizers," said Antonio I. Basilio, MECO resident representative..
Basilio said by working strategically with MECO’s trade partners, the organization helps in creating a new wave of tourism growth in key holiday destinations such as Bohol, Laoag, Cebu, Boracay and Palawan, among others.
MECO launched several initiatives this year to strengthen the country’s status as a premier leisure destination.
Charter flights from Taiwan to the Philippines - including the Taipei-Laoag, Kaohsiung-Kalibo and Taichung-Kalibo services - were launched earlier this year. Recently, Mandarin Airlines started offering direct charter services from Taichung in central Taiwan to Kalibo, the first stop of leisure travelers visiting Boracay. .
MECO also initiated the creation of new package tours and charter services to the Philippines by expanding on its partnership with travel agencies and Taiwanese and Philippine carriers.
Some of these innovative products that have helped grow Philippine tourism include China Airlines’ (CAL) golf package in Kaohsiung; CAL’s Taipei-Cebu, Kaohsiung-Cebu and Kaohsiung-Kalibo charter services; TransAsia’s charter flights to Kalibo; Philippine Airlines’ ‘Swing Around’ package; and Cebu Pacific’s Easy Connect package for the Taipei-Manila-Cebu/Kalibo routes.
This year, the Philippines’ first-rate leisure destinations also received significant media exposure in Taiwan including a 30-minute, four-episode show in GTV’s Wonderful World program, a Du Royal advertisement featuring Bohol, and extensive coverage of Cebu and Bohol in TVBS’ New Feature and Super Taste Plus programs.
MECO also helped the Masters Travel Association, a leading tourism and services group, organize a familiarization trip to the Philippines .
The delegation was comprised of representatives of 34 tour operators. Faithfully Travel, a Taipei-based travel agency, likewise inaugurated a branch in Boracay this year.
The Philippines also had a significant presence in various travel fairs and international events in Taiwan this year including the Kaohsiung International Travel Fair, Taipei Tourism Expo, DIVE Fair and the Kaohsiung World Games Expo Fair.
MECO also accessed the lucrative incentive travel market by spearheading presentations promoting the Philippines as the preferred travel destination among the human resources teams of various companies located within the Tainan Science Park .
Likewise, MECO gave the country’s meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry a push by promoting the Philippines’ quality venues and spectacular holiday retreats among Taiwan ‘s business tourist leaders. The country offers a variety of venues, from international convention centers that can accommodate thousands of delegates to more intimate and modern settings that are ideal for smaller groups.
Tourist arrivals from Taiwan to the Philippines fell 14 percent in the first nine months of the year, double than the overall drop of Taiwanese travelers during the period, but still a lower decline compared to the number of Taiwanese that visited neighboring countries.
Latest figures from Taiwan ‘s Ministry of Transportation showed that outbound travel from Taiwan from January to September this year, there was an 8 percent drop in outbound travel or 5,448,114 from 6,590,261 travelers in the same period last year. In September alone, outbound travel dropped by 5 percent or 625,834 from 657,988 last year.
The drop in outbound travel from Taiwan affected many countries in Asia, including the Philippines where the decline was 14 percent or 77,126 from 90,104 last year.
Except for Mainland China and South Korea, other countries recorded bigger drop in Taiwanese arrivals like Brunei, 90.42 percent or 80 from 835; Thailand, 35 percent or 119,995 from 129,286; Macau 23.76 percent or 555,993 from 729,281; Hong Kong 21.57 percent or 1,737,806 from 2,215,602; Japan, 17.39 percent or 849,702 arrivals from 1,028,566; and Singapore 15.89 percent or 111,704 from 129, 286.
To attract more Taiwanese tourists, the Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) in Taipei is launching more marketing programs focusing on the country’s rich cultural diversity and numerous tourism sites and attractions and provide innovative packages catering to all budgets and requirements.
"We’re constantly looking for win-win opportunities with our industry partners including airlines, tour operators, destination management companies and professional conference organizers," said Antonio I. Basilio, MECO resident representative..
Basilio said by working strategically with MECO’s trade partners, the organization helps in creating a new wave of tourism growth in key holiday destinations such as Bohol, Laoag, Cebu, Boracay and Palawan, among others.