The Dragon and Tiger pagodas which are revered tourist magnets in Taiwan. contributed photo

The Taiwan Tourism Bureau set a target of 500,000 Filipino tourists to Taiwan in 2019.

This developed after Filipino tourists to the country jumped by 44.13 percent in 2018, or a total of 419,105 visitors from just 290,784 in 2017. The tourist growth is attributed to Taiwan’s visa-free treatment for Filipinos that runs from 1 November 2017 until 31 July 2019.

The initiative, to be reviewed for further extension, enabled Filipino passport holders to fly to Taiwan visa-free for 14 days.

“Every Filipino who comes to Taiwan for the first time always comes back to Taipei, but (since) Taiwan and the Philippines is very near, we hope more Filipinos visit Taiwan and the different cities,” Abe Chou, director of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau for the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei told reporters during the sidelines of the Taiwan B2B workshop held in Clark, Pampanga Tuesday.

Carriers offering daily and scheduled flights to Taipei include the Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, AirAsia, Eva Air, Tiger Air and Taiwan’s flagship carrier China Airlines.

Chou particularly highlighted incentives to tour operators promoting Taiwan during the workshop, participated in by local travel agencies, carriers as well as a delegation from Taiwan composed of city government representatives, hotel and travel agencies.

“I think the potential of the market is very important, so this time we’ve come to Clark to organize the workshop because we want to introduce more different things about Taiwan this year,” Chou said.

The tourism bureau is tapping the market of the younger generation as well as groups from corporations for itineraries which Chou said are “suitable for Filipinos,” due to the short 2-hour travel time, various attractions and fair climate.