Taiwan encourages Philippine tourism with fresh incentives
The Taiwan Tourism Administration is making significant strides in promoting travel between Taiwan and the Philippines by offering incentives to Filipino travel agencies. These measures aim to increase inbound tourism from the Philippines and strengthen cultural, trade, and tourism exchanges.
From January to May 2025, over 86,000 Taiwanese tourists visited the Philippines, marking a growing interest in the archipelago. This trend is expected to continue with the Taiwan Tourism Administration's recent initiatives.
The incentives include visa-free entry for Filipino travelers extended until July 31, 2026, making travel to Taiwan easier and more attractive. Additionally, the administration is offering subsidized group travel packages to support Filipino travel agencies in promoting Taiwan as a destination and making group tours more affordable. Moreover, free WiFi access for tourists will enhance the travel experience and connectivity while in Taiwan, providing a promotional benefit for Filipino agencies.
These measures complement the visa-free reciprocal travel arrangement between Taiwan and the Philippines, which began in June 2025. This arrangement is a significant incentive as it lowers the entry barriers for Filipino tourists.
In 2024, the Philippines was Taiwan's fifth-largest global market and top Southeast Asian source market, with over 470,000 tourists visiting. The number of Taiwanese visitors to the Philippines also increased significantly in 2024, with 220,000 arrivals.
The workshops held in Iloilo and Cebu, Philippines, engaged local tour operators, travel agencies, and airlines to discuss these incentives. The Taiwan Tourism Information Center in Manila and the Taiwan Tourism Administration Bangkok Office are involved in these promotional efforts. Filipino travel agencies can apply for these incentives through the Taiwan Tourism Information Center, which opened in December 2024.
Both countries are experiencing rising demand for culinary, educational, and outdoor experiences. The Philippines, with its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, and Taiwan, with its vibrant cities and stunning landscapes, offer a wealth of experiences for tourists.
In Iloilo, the Taiwanese delegation was welcomed by Department of Tourism-Western Visayas Director Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez. Wallace Minn-Gan Chow, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines, emphasized the broader impact of tourism as a bridge connecting cultures and continents. Cindy Chen, director of the Taiwan Tourism Information Center in Manila, expressed gratitude to Taiwanese and Filipino travel agencies and airlines for their collaboration.
In conclusion, the Taiwan Tourism Administration's incentives for Filipino travel agencies, such as visa-free entry, subsidies for group travel, and enhanced connectivity perks like free WiFi, are aimed at making Taiwan a more attractive and accessible destination for Filipino tourists. These efforts are expected to further strengthen the already growing tourism ties between Taiwan and the Philippines.
- The measures aim to increase not only inbound tourism from the Philippines, but also cultural, trade, and tourism exchanges between the Philippines and Taiwan.
- Filipinos can take advantage of visa-free entry to Taiwan, which has been extended until July 31, 2026, and subsidized group travel packages, making travel to Taiwan easier and more affordable.
- The Philippine cities of Iloilo and Cebu, as well as Manila, have seen workshops engaging local tour operators, travel agencies, and airlines to discuss these incentives.
- As both Taiwan and the Philippines experience rising demand for experiences such as food, education, and outdoor activities, tourists from both countries can enjoy the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of the Philippines, and the vibrant cities and stunning landscapes of Taiwan.
