By Travel is back, but some places are still working hard to entice visitors, from Hong Kong (which is offering free plane tickets to travelers) to Malta (which was paying travelers to visit) to the Italian island of Sardinia (which was giving people money to move there).
The latest deep-pocketed destination is the island nation of Taiwan. According to the Taipei Times, the Taiwan government is planning to offer 500,000 travelers an incentive of NT$5,000 (around $165) per person to take a vacation there. Tour groups of eight to 14 people can get an incentive of NT$10,000 (around $330), while groups larger than that can get NT$20,000 (around $658).
The initiative will cost the Taiwan government around NT$5.3 billion (US$174.31 million). It is being done in an attempt to jumpstart tourism numbers. In 2019, a record 11.8 million international tourists visited Taiwan, but that number plummeted to fewer than 900,000 people in 2022. Taiwan’s aim is to attract six million tourists in 2023, with a goal of reaching 10 million visitors by 2025.
Taiwan will pay you to visit. Pictured here: The Spring and Autumn Pavilions at the Lotus Pond in … [+]
“Compared with nearby countries, we are relatively late in reopening the borders for international tourists and have fewer means to conduct international tourism marketing,” Ringo Lee, the chairman of the High-Quality of Travel Association said at a news conference.
Chang Shi-chung, director general of the Tourism Bureau, says that the money will be doled out a little at a time. “The money will be given out through multiple tourism promotion events this year, rather than giving it all out at once,” Chang said at the conference. “As such, not all international tourists would receive it.”
The money will be stored in an electronic ticketing card that can be used to pay for food, accommodation and other travel expenses during a traveler’s time in Taiwan.
This news marks the perfect moment to start dreaming about a trip to Taiwan—a place that is known for its stunning islands, rich culture, myriad temples and the buzzing city of Taipei. Check out these photos of Taiwan’s most beautiful places.
The skyline of Taipei and the skyscraper, Taipei 101 at night.
Taipei
One of the landmarks in Taipei is Taipei 101, a super skyscraper that used to be known as the Taipei World Financial Center.
View of Beitou thermal hot springs in Taipei, Taiwan.
Beitou
Travelers flock to Beitou—a 30-minute train ride from Taipei—for its natural hot springs, public baths and hotels where you can enjoy the geothermal waters.
Night scene at Jioufen village.
Jiufen
Set in the mountains, Jiufen is about an hour’s drive from Taipei. A former gold mining town, this small village is known for its tea houses, the Shifen Waterfall (one of the most scenic in Taiwan), hiking trails and a famous night market.
Changchun temple in Taroko National Park.
Taroko National Park
This popular park has a massive canyon with marble cliffs, amazing hiking and endless waterfalls.
Kaohsiung, Taiwan Dragon and Tiger Pagodas at Lotus Pond in the Zuoying District of Kaohsiung.
Kaohsiung
Located in southern Taiwan, Kaohsiung is a port city filled with skyscrapers, parks and the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas—a temple located at Lotus Lake.
A famous lake in Taiwan named Sun Moon Lake.
Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake is the largest body of water in Taiwan. The area around it is home to the Thao tribe, one of Taiwan’s aboriginal tribes.
The Qingshui Cliff.
Qingshui Cliff
The most dangerous road in eastern Taiwan, the Qingshui Cliff crosses the border between the mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
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