TAIWAN High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) has more than doubled the number of packages offered through its T Holiday leisure travel brand since it was launched in July last year.
THSRC will offer up to 170 different itineraries from October 1, all of which include discounted train fare, hotel accommodation and guided tours.
The four-year old, high-speed rail service runs from north to south, connecting major cities along Taiwan’s densely-populated western corridor, and offering access to most of the popular tourist destinations, except those on the east coast.
Most T Holiday packages are for two days with an overnight stay, but there are exceptions. For example, a one-day tour of Taipei’s major sights is listed at NT$2,750 (US$90) per pax, while an overnight visit to the island’s southern tip, Kenting, costs NT$4,540. Prices are adjusted according to point of departure.
At the moment, T Holiday packages are sold through 13 local travel agencies, and nearly all T Holiday sales are to domestic travellers.
“Currently, T Holiday packages cannot be booked from overseas,” said THSRC brand manager Paul Ou. “Foreign visitors account for less than one per cent of sales, and they tend to be people in town on business. For them, T Holiday packages are a way to get out of town for a day.”
Ou expects the customer demographic to change sooner rather than later, with THSRC planning to promote T Holidays next year at major travel trade shows in Hong Kong, Tokyo and China.
According to Jimmy Lee, manager of Taipei-based Lion Travel, competitive pricing is one reason behind T Holiday’s popularity among domestic travellers. “T Holiday packages are priced about 30 percent lower than what a customer would pay if they booked train, tour and hotel separately,” he explained.
Jessica Chiang, spokesperson for eztravel, said THSRC also provides the same coverage of domestic destinations as traditional bus tours.
“What makes (T Holiday packages) attractive is the speed at which travellers can reach their destination, a consideration when travelling longer distances. THSRC tours may be priced higher (than bus tours), but the quality is higher too,” she said.
By Glenn Smith
