50,000 Tourists Arrive on The First Day of Chinese New Year

On the first day of the Chinese New Year holiday period, January 22, the Macau SAR received a total of 50,090 tourist arrivals.

The 2023 Spring Festival Golden Week will be held from January 21 to 27, making it the first time in three years that there will be no movement restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the removal of pandemic control measures earlier this month, daily visitor arrivals in the city have gradually increased, reaching as high as 55,000, the highest single-day record since the pandemic.

Arrivals from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are no longer required to show proof of negative nucleic acid tests as of January 8, allowing free passage between the regions.

On January 22, a total of 239,454 entries and exits were reported at all of the city’s border checkpoints, with nearly 20,000 movements involving Hong Kong residents and 52,663 movements involving mainland residents.

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), stated last week that the tourism authorities planned to implement measures to attract visitors to Macau, focusing on Hong Kong, mainland China, and foreign countries, as well as hold more promotional activities for overseas markets.

In addition, the MGTO intends to spend MOP30 million over three months on a campaign to increase visitation from the neighboring SAR to 60 to 80 percent of pre-pandemic levels.

The tourism bureau estimates that during the Chinese New Year period, Macau will receive 47,000 visitors per day on average, with the majority of the city’s 142 hotels and inns fully booked.

On Saturday, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng stated that he expects the number of tourists to gradually increase beginning with the third day of the Chinese New Year.

Macau reported around 62,000 visitor arrivals during the three-day New Year’s holiday from December 31 to January 2, with an average of more than 20,000 visitors per day during last year’s Spring Festival period.

On the first day of the Year of the Rabbit, a massive golden dragon parade was held on the city’s streets on Sunday, with tourism officials organizing various festivities and events throughout the week.

 

 

 

 

 

Source : macaubusiness

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Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau Recommends New Year’s Eve Activities

Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau suggested activities for people in the country to celebrate the arrival of the new year at four national scenic areas across the country.

People from the north can visit Waiao Beach in Yilan County to take part in the “Northeast Coast Sunrise Series Activities” and see the first sunrise of the year over Turtle Island. Following that, they can go hiking or cycling in the surrounding area.

People in central Taiwan can celebrate New Year’s Eve in Guguan or Lishan and ring in the new year at an elevation of 2,000 meters.

This year’s Sun Moon Lake New Year’s Eve party will begin at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 31, and will last until the countdown and release of the 480-second fireworks at both piers.

People in the south should not miss the “Alishan Sunrise Impression Concert” at the Chushan Sunrise Watching Platform on New Year’s Day, which takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. On New Year’s Day, with Yushan, the sunrise, and a sea of clouds in the background, attendees can enjoy the natural voices and dances of the Indigenous people, as well as melodic orchestra music, on the mountain.

 

 

Source : taiwannews

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Taiwan Uses The “silver economy” To Boost Tourism

Taiwan’s tourism bureau held a press conference on Wednesday to promote the results of its efforts to attract more elderly visitors to Taiwan. The Golden Years travel initiative of the bureau is focused on ecology, culture, and quality of life.

The effort is in response to the world’s aging populations. According to government statistics, one in every five Taiwanese will be over the age of 65 by 2025. The tourism bureau says it plans to capitalize on this.

Taiwan, according to Deputy Tourism Chief Trust Lin (), is a popular destination for seniors who want to engage in recreational activities while remaining mentally and physically healthy.

He goes on to say that the government has been working to improve infrastructure, lodging, and transportation services to make sites more accessible and senior-friendly.

Lin also claims that the “senior economy” is thriving and has a lot of untapped potential. According to him, domestic travel by senior citizens was valued at NT$40 billion last year. Lin claims that the tourism bureau is prepared to capitalize on this niche market.

 

 

 

Source : en.rti.org.tw

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Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China: Asia’s travel rules as borders open up

After more than two years of COVID-19 border restrictions, Taiwan has fully reopened to foreign travel. Visitors to the self-governed island are no longer required to be quarantined or take any PCR tests upon arrival.

Instead, they must test negative on a rapid antigen test upon arrival and be monitored for a week. The Taiwanese tourism bureau expects 244 tourists from 20 tour groups to arrive on Thursday.

The announcement comes as Japan and Hong Kong eased entry requirements. Visitors to nearby China, on the other hand, face strict quarantine policies. So, what are the guidelines for visiting the region, and when should you make your reservation?

What are the Taiwan travel regulations?

Taiwan’s borders reopened on October 13. The current requirement that arriving passengers be quarantined in hotels for three days followed by four days of self-monitoring has been scrapped.

People who could enter the country without a visa prior to the pandemic can now do so as of September 29. Tour groups are also no longer prohibited.

“It has finally come to the final moment of the pandemic,” President Tsai Ing-wen wrote on her Facebook page.

“Now, we must make every effort to revive tourism, stimulate the economy and lead Taiwan’s economy to develop by leaps and bounds.”

Visitors who test positive for COVID-19 must still be quarantined at a hotel or at home.

What are the rules for visiting Japan?

Since June, Japan has allowed a limited number of visitors, but only as part of strictly controlled tour groups.

These requirements were removed on October 11, and the daily arrival cap was lifted. Tourists are no longer required to obtain a visa in order to enter the country.

“Japan will relax border control measures to be on par with the US,” said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

In 2019, 31.9 million foreign visitors visited Japan, spending 4.81 trillion yen (€35.2 billion). When the pandemic struck, this revenue nearly vanished.

In 2021, the country will welcome slightly more than 250,000 international visitors. This figure includes all athletes and support personnel who came to Japan for the Olympics.

What are the Hong Kong travel regulations?

Travelers arriving in Hong Kong will no longer be required to enter a mandatory hotel quarantine beginning Monday, October 26.

The requirement to pass a COVID-19 test before boarding a flight to the city will also be eliminated. Cathay Pacific has added more than 200 pairs of flights in October to meet a sudden surge in demand.

However, travelers must still follow certain rules. They will be required to take a PCR test on the second, fourth, and sixth days after their arrival. They will be prohibited from entering public places such as shopping malls and restaurants for three days following their arrival.

What are China’s travel regulations?

China maintains strict entry rules for visitors and continues to pursue a “zero COVID” policy. Travelers to China must pay for a 10-day hotel quarantine. However, the country’s authorities have recently hinted that restrictions may be lifted in the future. Tour groups organized by travel agencies may soon be able to operate in China’s border areas, according to a draft policy document released in September by China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism. This strategy is similar to the Japanese tour policy that has been in effect for the majority of this year.

 

 

Source : euronews

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Taiwan will Accept Group Tours from Japan, South Korea, and SE Asia

Tourism of Taiwan Bureau anticipates that tourists from Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia will be among the first to visit the country when it opens its borders in late September or early October. In an interview with Mirror Media, Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) head Victor Wang predicted that the current wave of infections would peak and then begin to decline between late September and early October. Wang predicted that border controls would be relaxed in late September, or early October at the latest.

Tourism Bureau Deputy Director-General Lin Hsin-jen said at a press conference on Friday (Aug. 26) that guidelines for the entry of foreign tourists have been submitted to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), but it is still reviewing the details, according to Rti. Lin stated that the tourism industry is preparing and waiting for the go-ahead, and that once the schedule is announced, the country will be able to begin welcoming tourists.

According to Lin, the plan is to allow incoming tour groups first, followed by outbound group tours later. Lin stated that when it comes to opening up the country to tourism, there are two major considerations. One is medical capacity, and the other is that travel agencies require time to prepare before the borders open. Lin explained that tour travel routes will need to be adjusted in response to pandemic changes.

Lin stated that some restaurants and scenic spots, for example, are closed due to the pandemic and will take time to prepare to reopen. Lin stated that because international marketing requires at least one to two months of preparation, he hopes the CECC can give tour companies some time to prepare.

He stated that the Tourism Bureau is initially considering opening up to inbound group tours, whereas fully independent travelers (FITs) will require visas, which will be determined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ plan. Furthermore, Lin stated that Japan is the primary target for inbound tourists because Japan used to send over 2 million people to Taiwan each year, with a relatively high level of consumption.

Lin described Japanese tourists as the primary target market, but tourists from South Korea and Southeast Asia will also be targeted early on. Lin believes that “after the pandemic ends,” tourists from these markets will look to travel further abroad, which will benefit Taiwan.

According to a Tourism Bureau official, Taiwan’s advantage is its ability to provide European and North American tourists with the opportunity to explore new cultures. Lin explained that during the pandemic, “maintenance” was the primary focus, but that once the pandemic is over, marketing will resume in full force.

Lin mentioned the Taiwan-Japan Tourism Summit and the Taiwan-Vietnam Tourism Summit as upcoming international tourism promotion events. Furthermore, he predicts that as Taiwan opens up to inbound tourism, many travel agencies and media outlets will be looking for opportunities.

However, Lin cautioned that the influx of foreign tourists would be gradual. Lin stated that after the borders are opened, the number of tourists will gradually increase, using inbound Japanese tour groups as an example.

 

Source : taiwannews

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