Taiwan Offers Tourists Free Money to Revive Tourism Industry

Numerous countries are struggling to revive their tourism industry to pre-pandemic levels. In an effort to boost their economies, certain regions in Italy and Hong Kong have offered free travel and accommodation. Taiwan has recently joined this list, offering 5,000 New Taiwan dollars ($163 USD) per traveler or NT$20,000 ($653 USD) for up to 90,000 tour groups.

Chang Shi-chung, the director-general of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, stated that the funds will be transferred through a digital tourist card to ensure that they are directed towards Taiwan’s tourism. The card can be used for various travel expenses, including accommodation and food. Taiwan aims to attract tourists from Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macao, Europe, and the U.S.

In 2019, Taiwan welcomed a record 11.8 million international tourists, but in 2022, the number was below 900,000. The Taiwanese government has yet to disclose its plan for distributing the digital tourist cards.