Taiwan is planning to pay tourists to visit, including those from the Philippines
Need a destination idea for 2023 and beyond? You might want to set your sights on Taiwan, as it is planning to pay tourists to visit in the coming months.
In late February, the Taiwan government received a proposal from its tourism bureau to give 500,000 international tourists an allowance of NT$5,000 each (approximately P9,000 per person) when they travel to the country.
Meanwhile, each group with eight to 14 members will be given pocket money amounting to NT$10,000 (P17,980) and those with more members can expect to receive NT$20,000 (P35,960). According to a report by Taipei Times, the bureau is eyeing to distribute the money to 90,000 groups.
While the government has yet to approve the proposal, foreign media outlets reported that the move is part of the Taiwan government's NT$5.3 billion (P9.5 billion) project to attract six million tourists this year and ten million by 2025.
If you're one of the tourists who will be given NT$5,000 incentive, Tourism Bureau Director-General Chang Shi-chung said that you will receive the amount when you arrive in Taiwan.
“It will be stored in an electronic ticketing card, which can be used to pay for food, accommodation, and other travel expenses during their time here," Chang added.
The rest will be "given out through multiple tourism promotion events this year." Because of that, "not all international tourists would receive it," the director-general noted.
The bureau is aiming to attract tourists primarily from Japan, South Korea, Europe, and North America.
Good news is that Filipino travelers may also be eligible for the incentive as the program will cover countries under Taiwan's New Southbound Policy as well. This includes the Philippines, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.
In an e-mail sent to PhilSTAR L!fe, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of the Philippines said that further details about the program are yet to be announced if it is approved by the government.
"If it is approved, The Taiwan Tourism Bureau will announce the details and guidelines on its official website: https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002001," the statement reads.
Prior to Taiwan, Malta launched a program in 2021 granting tourists €200 (P11,700) when they stay in the island for more than two nights during summer of that year. The amount was paid both by participating hotels and the government in an attempt to put Malta's hotels in a "competitive position," according to Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo.
Hong Kong is likewise stepping up its game, with the launch of Airport Authority Hong Kong's "World of Winners" campaign in February this year. With the program, 500,000 tourists around the globe will be given free airline tickets when they visit the country. Filipinos can avail of the offer through Cathay Pacific's contest until March 9, 2023.
Editor's note: This story was updated to include the statement from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office of the Philippines that the Taiwan Tourism Bureau's proposal for the incentive program has yet to be approved.