Travel without guilt: Taiwan is paying tourists to visit

Angelique Agarap

March 8, 2023

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  There are many reasons why you should visit the beautiful island of Taiwan. It offers staggering natural beauty, magnificent temples, fascinating indigenous traditions, raucous festivals, and mouthwatering street foods. But there is another reason why you should set your sights on the Land of Milk tea for your next destination — its government is planning to provide monetary allowances to international tourists.
  
  To meet its goal of boosting tourism, the bureau targets six million visitors in 2023. In fact, the program has an allocated budget of NT$5.3 billion (P9.5 billion). The bureau is primarily looking to entice travelers from Europe, Japan, North America, and South Korea.
  
  Not to worry, though, as Filipinos are also eligible for the incentives because the program includes countries covered by Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy. This includes the Philippines, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

  The proposal is that 500,000 tourists will be given a NT$5,000 per person (approximately P9,000) allowance when they visit Taiwan.

  Additionally, those who travel in groups may be eligible for cash incentives from the government. Groups of 8 to 14 tourists can receive NT$10,000 (approximately P17,900), while larger groups can receive NT$20,000 (around P35,800). The allowances are available to up to 90,000 groups.
  
  Furthermore, tourists who choose to have allowances will be given the amount when they arrive in Taiwan. Chang Shi-chung, Director-General of the Tourism Bureau, explained that the stipend will be distributed digitally.
  
  “It will be stored in an electronic ticketing card, which can be used to pay for food, accommodation, and other travel expenses during their time here,” Chang said.

  It will not, however, be distributed all at once, but rather through a series of tourism promotion events in 2023. This also means that not all foreign tourists will receive it, so keep an eye out for promotional events.

  Meanwhile, Filipinos can visit Taiwan without a visa until July 31, 2023.

  Those with Philippine passports, with the exception of those with diplomatic or official/service passports, can stay for up to 14 days.

  A beautiful destination plus a cash incentive? Sounds like a treat!

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