THE Taiwan Tourism Administration is actively promoting new travel incentives and encouraging Filipino travel agencies to apply, as it intensifies efforts to boost inbound tourism from the Philippines, its leading Southeast Asian market.
To strengthen bilateral ties and promote Taiwan’s latest tourism offerings, the agency, along with the Taiwan Tourism Information Center in Manila, recently held the 2025 Taiwan Tourism Workshop in Iloilo and Cebu. The workshops directly engaged local tour operators, travel agencies, and airlines.
“The Philippines is one of Taiwan’s most important source markets in Southeast Asia,” said Cindy Chen, director of the Taiwan Tourism Information Center in Manila and the Taiwan Tourism Administration Bangkok Office. “I want to express our sincere gratitude to both Taiwanese and Filipino travel agencies and airlines for your invaluable contributions to promoting tourism to Taiwan.”
In 2024, Taiwan welcomed over 470,000 Filipino tourists, positioning the Philippines as its fifth-largest global market and top Southeast Asian source market. To sustain this growth, Taiwan is offering incentives, including subsidized group travel, company incentive tours, a Lucky Draw campaign and free pocket WiFi. Filipino agencies can apply for these incentives through the Taiwan Tourism Information Center, which opened in December 2024.
During the Cebu workshop, Wallace Minn-Gan Chow, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, underscored tourism’s broader impact. “Tourism is not just a business. It’s a bridge that connects people across cultures and continents,” he said.
The Philippines also experienced a significant influx of Taiwanese visitors, with 220,000 arrivals in 2024 and over 86,000 from January to May 2025. This makes Taiwan the eighth-largest inbound market nationwide for the Philippines and fourth in Western Visayas.
Both countries have recently extended 14-day visa-free entry for each other’s citizens, further fueling tourism growth. Taiwan’s visa-free program for Filipinos, for example, has been extended until July 31, 2026.
In Iloilo, Department of Tourism-Western Visayas Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez welcomed the Taiwanese delegation. She highlighted Iloilo’s potential for direct Taiwan flights, citing the city’s connectivity, culinary appeal, and readiness for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE).
Department of Tourism-Central Visayas director Judy Gabato echoed these sentiments in Cebu, emphasizing the workshop’s role in strengthening tourism, trade and cultural exchange.
With over 250 weekly flights between the Philippines and Taiwan, and rising demand for culinary, educational, and outdoor experiences, both countries are well-positioned to deepen their tourism and economic links. / KOC