Taiwanese tourism subsidies see 20,000 sign-ups for birthday voucher lottery; expected to generate NT$18 billion

Taiwan's Tourism Administration is rolling out a comprehensive "Tourism Dual-Wheel Drive Plan," backed by a budget of NT$3.33 billion, designed to stimulate both domestic tourism and attract high-spending international visitors. The initiative, set to launch progressively from September 1, features a series of travel incentives aimed at encouraging longer stays and off-peak travel.

Key components of the plan include weekday accommodation discounts, offering up to NT$800 off the first night and NT$1,200 off the second night for eligible stays, with higher discounts for stays in outlying islands. Additionally, a "birthday voucher" lottery will offer 1,000 winners each month between September and December a NT$1,200 accommodation credit. These birthday vouchers can be combined with weekday accommodation discounts.

Tourism Administration Director-General Chen Yu-hsiu stated that as of 11 a.m. on the launch day, over 20,000 applications had been registered for the birthday voucher lottery. She projects the overall plan will attract an additional 4 million domestic and international travelers, generating an estimated NT$18 billion in economic value.

The administration is also implementing measures to enhance international tourism, including incentives for repeat international visitors and support for large-scale international concerts. While the government has a target of 10 million international visitors this year, Chen Yu-hsiu noted that the Tourism Administration's goal is 9 to 9.3 million, acknowledging the volatility of the international travel market.

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As of 11 a.m. today, there have been over 20,000 registrations for the birthday voucher. The overall plan is expected to increase domestic and international travelers by 4 million, with an estimated output value of about 18 billion yuan.