Taiwan’s tourism info center opens in Manila

The Taiwan Tourism Administration has opened its first tourism information center in the Philippines, aiming to attract more Filipinos to visit Taiwan. 

“Opening this center is meaningful and just in time to mark the flourishing bilateral relations of the Philippines and Taiwan,” Taiwan Representative Wallace Minn-Gan Chow said. 

According to Chow, Philippines remains Taiwan’s largest source of international visitors from the Southeast Asian Region. For the past 11 months, Taiwan welcomed more than 370,000 Filipino travelers, a 35-percent increase from 2023’s overall count of 350,000. 

“With the opening of TTIC, there will be a big boost. I expect very soon we will have more than 500,000 Filipinos who will Taiwan in the future,” Chow said. 

TTIC, located at 100 West Makati, will provide consultation and necessary information on Taiwan tourism, and will also serve as a space for communication between Taiwanese and Filipino travel agencies. The center will also hold workshops and Mandarin classes. 

TTA director for International Affairs Division Ben Huang said that TTIC will endeavor to deepen the impression of Taiwan’s tourism industry to Filipinos and strengthen the networking with local media and travel agencies to attract more Filipinos to visit Taiwan. He added that it helps that flights between the two countries are only two hours and airlines have hundreds of flights from Manila to Taipei and vice versa every week. 

Taiwan is offering travel incentives for Filipinos, i.e group tours will have free entrance at the Taipei 101 Observatory Deck, a “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” ticket promotion for independent travelers, and complimentary pocket Wi-Fi rental services. The Lucky Land Raffle campaign gives travelers a chance to win NTD 5,000. 

“The center can become a platform to help Filipino friends develop their tourism program in Taiwan. We can introduce the most beautiful places and the most delicious food in Taiwan through TTIC. I think our Filipino friends will better understand Taiwan’s culture and gastronomy. All of that can be found here,” Chow added. 

Taiwan’s visa-free entry for Filipinos is in effect until 31 July 2025.

TTIC is located at 100 West Makati (2nd Floor, 100 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave., Corner Washington St., Brgy. Pio del Pilar, Makati, 1230 Metro Manila, Philippines). It is open from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.