Tourism Bureau Pushing for 72-Hour VISA-Free Stay in Taiwan|吸引轉機客 觀光局擬推72小時過境免簽
加入公視會員，
按讚收藏你關注的報導
發布時間：
更新時間：
Taoyuan International Airport has less than 11 percent of transit passengers. This figure is the second lowest among major airports in Asia. The Tourism Bureau has hence asked the foreign ministry to offer a 72-hour VISA-free window to transit passengers to visit Taiwan, in hopes to boost transit and tourism. However, local tourism professionals said this will only benefit northern Taiwan.
Out of every 100 passengers through the Taoyuan International Airport, only 11 take transit flights. The Tourism Bureau believes that current laws allow these passengers to stay in Taoyuan for only 24 hours, which is too short. It hopes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would consider extending the period to allow travelers to stay in Taiwan VISA-free for 72 hours. The goal is to attract more transit flight passengers and boost local tourism.
(If the law is relaxed) It would only benefit the tourism business in northern regions of Taiwan. It would not be much help for the tourism sector in central, southern and eastern regions of Taiwan.
Local tourism professionals said that allowing 72-hour VISA-free stay in Taiwan would only bring benefits to Taipei and Taoyuan. But the tourism sector in central, southern and eastern Taiwan has been in a slump, and it would take longer packaged tours or other attractions to boost business. Tourism academics suggest that the government should put in place other promotions along with the potential extension of VISA-free period.
In some countries and cities, passengers who stay for a day or two for transit flights get to enjoy free accommodation on their first night of stay. Promotions like that would certainly attract more travelers to transit through Taiwan.
According to an analysis report from the Ministry of Audit, in 2016, the proportion of passengers taking transit flights through Hong Kong International Airport was close to 30 percent of all travelers, 26.7 percent for Singapore's Changi Airport, 24.8 percent for the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand, and only 10.6 percent for the Taoyuan International Airport, which is only slightly above the airport in Beijing. The Ministry of Transportation and Communication said that they hope the Taoyuan International Airport would put more emphasis on transit flight passengers, and they also hope that the construction of the third runway and terminal would better serve those passengers.
Out of every 100 passengers through the Taoyuan International Airport, only 11 take transit flights. The Tourism Bureau believes that current laws allow these passengers to stay in Taoyuan for only 24 hours, which is too short. It hopes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would consider extending the period to allow travelers to stay in Taiwan VISA-free for 72 hours. The goal is to attract more transit flight passengers and boost local tourism.
(If the law is relaxed) It would only benefit the tourism business in northern regions of Taiwan. It would not be much help for the tourism sector in central, southern and eastern regions of Taiwan.
Local tourism professionals said that allowing 72-hour VISA-free stay in Taiwan would only bring benefits to Taipei and Taoyuan. But the tourism sector in central, southern and eastern Taiwan has been in a slump, and it would take longer packaged tours or other attractions to boost business. Tourism academics suggest that the government should put in place other promotions along with the potential extension of VISA-free period.
In some countries and cities, passengers who stay for a day or two for transit flights get to enjoy free accommodation on their first night of stay. Promotions like that would certainly attract more travelers to transit through Taiwan.
According to an analysis report from the Ministry of Audit, in 2016, the proportion of passengers taking transit flights through Hong Kong International Airport was close to 30 percent of all travelers, 26.7 percent for Singapore's Changi Airport, 24.8 percent for the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Thailand, and only 10.6 percent for the Taoyuan International Airport, which is only slightly above the airport in Beijing. The Ministry of Transportation and Communication said that they hope the Taoyuan International Airport would put more emphasis on transit flight passengers, and they also hope that the construction of the third runway and terminal would better serve those passengers.
