DESPITE the global economic slowdown, Taiwan’s outbound traffic remains resilient with figures crossing the nine-million mark for the first nine months, up some 900,000 over the same period last year.
Improved air connectivity is believed to have fuelled growth. China Airlines inaugurated Kaohsiung-Changzhou services on September 16 and Taipei-Melbourne on October 25; Tigerair Taiwan added Taipei-Tokyo, Kaohsiung-Osaka and Taipei-Okinawa services to its network; Thailand-based NokScoot entered the Taiwan airspace as the latest low-cost carrier to offer a Bangkok-Taipei link in October.
The industry expects outbound performance to remain strong in 2016, given three long holidays and around seven holidays lasting more than three days.
Lion Travel is leveraging these long holidays such as the Ching Ming and Dragon Boat festivals – each lasting four days – to push for longer vacations.
Longhaul destinations have recognised the business opportunities presented by the lengthy holidays for the Taiwanese next year, and have stepped up their promotions at the ongoing Taipei International Travel Fair.
The US pavilion boasted the largest presence at the show with 36 booths. Destination D.C. is a first-time exhibitor and international sales manager, Louis Lu, hopes to draw FITs and family visitors from Taiwan.
The Czech Republic has made a comeback to the show and wishes to increase its visibility in the Taiwanese market. Director Jan Urban, said: “FIT has been on the rise due to visa relaxation as well as the availability of many new and affordable flights to Europe. A direct flight between the capital of Taiwan and the Czech Republic would be very helpful.”
Following Turkey’s implementation of e-visa for Taiwanese travellers in 2013, more air seats can be expected as Turkish Airlines gets ready to increase its seven-weekly flights to 10 in mid-2016 while Eva Air inaugurates four-weekly services to Istanbul in March 2016.
