Taiwan’s Travel Boom

The island east of China is attracting a growing and diverse group of visitors.

The small island nation of Taiwan exceeded 10 million visitors in both 2015 and 2016, making it a significant potential market for developers. International travelers to Taiwan are also increasingly diverse. Whereas in the past most visitors came from China, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau reported in 2016 that non-Chinese travelers now make up 70 percent of visitors, most hailing from Japan and Korea, but also from Europe, America and Australia.

The country’s attractions range from its capital, Taipei, where stay options near tourist sites in Ximending are in demand, to the natural wonders of destinations such as Sun Moon Lake, where travelers seek out rooms with a view of the stunning landscape.

Properties have begun tailoring their offerings in response to the rise in non-Chinese-speaking travelers. “There has been such demand for local experiences that many [resorts] are taking the effort to translate their websites into English,” says Isabella Ng, director of business development for North Asia at RCI. Having multilingual staff can also help draw in guests.

Resorts should also consider placing international ads. “Good publicity on travel blogs and websites greatly helps exposure,” Ng adds. She notes that visitors from Thailand have risen by 57 percent, and those from Vietnam and South Korea by 34 percent, suggesting these markets could be of particular interest to operators.

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