New Southbound Policy Portal

President Lai Ching-te (front, fifth right) stands behind the podium at the ITF launch, Nov. 7 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of PO)
 

President Lai Ching-te attended the opening ceremony of the 39th Taipei International Travel Fair (ITF) Nov. 7 in Taipei City. He thanked Taipei City-based Taiwan Visitors Association for coordinating the exhibition and noted that research would facilitate further advancement of domestic tourism industry.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, François Chih-chung Wu and Minister of Transportation and Communications, Chen Shih-kai also attended the event, evidencing the importance of the industry to Taiwan.

A total of 1,600 booths representing 123 countries or cities were present at the fair, which runs until Nov. 10. Last year domestic tourism revenue reached NT$ 837.8 billion (US$ 27 billion) and Lai would like to see profits in the region of NT$1 trillion generated from the industry by 2030.

Lai noted three niche opportunities for local travel development, namely, the increase in long holidays and disposable household income, as well as more relaxed labor policies. He added that the Executive Yuan has requested the Ministry of Labor to allow migrant workers to work in the hospitality industry to address labor shortages.

Central and local governments should work in tandem to create high quality, efficient tourism campaigns and private sector businesses such as hotels and restaurants would also benefit from strengthened cooperation, the president said.

Encouraged by MOFA, six allied nations from Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa joined this year’s ITF: Belize, Guatemala, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Kingdom of Eswatini. (POC-E)