Every industry has been battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the situation is improving, the focus has shifted to stimulating consumption and then the economy. To that end, the Executive Yuan has announced a stimulus voucher program. Under the program, people can exchange NT$1,000 for "Triple Stimulus Vouchers" worth NT$3,000.
The Executive Yuan announced a stimulus voucher program on June 2, with Premier Su Tseng-chang presiding over the press conference explaining the program. He said the vouchers have been named "Triple Stimulus Vouchers" because NT$1,000 can be converted into NT$3,000. He added the vouchers were designed around three principles, which are easy to access, easy to use, and easy to provide stimulus. Moreover, they are available to everyone, and there are no restrictions based on income level.
Our three principles are easy to access, easy to use, and easy to provide stimulus. They're easy to get and available to everyone.
There are people who are waiting to get their national identity cards but who are spouses of our nationals. They are also eligible, there's no problem with that. We are of course including spouses from China, Hong Kong, Macau, and other foreign countries.
The "Triple Stimulus Vouchers" allow people to pay NT$1,000 for NT$3,000 in vouchers. They are available starting on July 15, and can be used until the end of the year. There are four ways to get them. Paper vouchers can be obtained at post offices. People can also advance purchase them starting at the beginning of July through convenience stores like the face mask 2.0 program. Digital versions can be obtained through electronic payments, electronic money, or credit cards, although prior registration is required. Under the program, the government will give rebates of NT$2,000 for each NT$3,000 spent. Meanwhile, Taiwan's 1.2 million medium- and low-income households won't need to pay the NT$1,000 to receive NT$3,000. The vouchers can be used at restaurants, night markets, and commercial districts, and for cultural events, high speed rail tickets, and train tickets.
To put it simply, you begin accumulating consumption when you start binding. If you discover there is somewhere else with better discounts after you finish binding, you can cancel the bind. However, what you accumulated before will be canceled as well.
You get four vouchers with a face value of NT$500 and five vouchers with a face value of NT$200, so NT$1,000 becomes NT$3,000.
The premier said border controls remain in place due to the epidemic, preventing international travel, but domestic restrictions have been loosened and people can use the vouchers for domestic travel to appreciate the beauty of Taiwan while stimulating the economy. When asked why the program does not start until July 15, Su said it was chosen because it is an auspicious day as well as the start of the summer vacation.