Taiwan to roll out NT$3.33 billion tourism subsidies in September

台灣9月將推出新台幣33.3億元觀光補助

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Tourism Administration will launch an NT$3.33 billion (US$104 million) tourism promotion package Sept. 1, featuring accommodation subsidies, birthday vouchers, and incentives aimed at attracting both domestic and international travelers.

The domestic program includes five categories: weekday accommodation discounts, birthday accommodation vouchers, amusement park stay incentives, corporate employee travel incentives, and Taiwan PASS discounts, per UDN.

The international component includes four measures, including rewards for repeat visitors, support for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) travel, additional incentives for group tours, and support for international flagship concerts.

Domestic travel incentives
Online registration for weekday accommodation and birthday vouchers begins Thursday, according to the Tourism Administration. The weekday accommodation program runs from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30. Weekdays are defined as Sunday through Thursday, excluding national holidays and consecutive holidays.

Travelers staying at participating legal accommodations can receive subsidies for up to two consecutive nights. In general areas, the maximum subsidy is NT$800 for the first night and NT$1,200 for the second night. On outlying islands, the maximum subsidy is NT$1,000 for the first night and NT$1,500 for the second night. The two nights may be spent at different accommodations or in different areas, but the stays must be on consecutive dates.

Completing the online registration only records an applicant's information and does not guarantee a subsidy. Travelers must present either their national identification card or National Health Insurance card at check-in so accommodation operators can verify their identity, per UDN.

The birthday voucher program runs from Sept. 10 to Dec. 31. Each month, 1,000 people celebrating their birthdays will be randomly selected to receive NT$1,200 in accommodation credit. Birthday vouchers can be combined with weekday accommodation subsidies.

The amusement park overnight stay program runs from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30. After registering, customers will receive amusement park points based on the amount of their accommodation discount. The points can be exchanged for admission tickets and related merchandise.

The Taiwan PASS double-savings program runs from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31. Travelers purchasing the Taiwan PASS Taiwan Railway Edition for NT$2,500 can choose between a 50% discount on the pass, saving NT$1,250, or an NT$1,500 weekday accommodation voucher. The accommodation voucher can be combined with weekday accommodation and birthday vouchers.

The corporate employee domestic travel incentive program runs from Sept. 1 to Dec. 15. Companies organizing two-day, one-night employee trips can receive NT$20,000 per group, with a maximum application limit of NT$60,000.

Incentives for international visitors
A special program designed to attract repeat international visitors will run from Oct. 10 through March 31, 2027. It applies to foreign travelers who have previously entered Taiwan since Jan. 1, 2023.

Individual repeat visitors will have a chance to receive NT$5,000 in prepaid credit. Those traveling with companions can receive up to NT$8,000, consisting of NT$5,000 for the repeat visitor and NT$3,000 for accompanying family members or friends.

For international group tours, groups of at least four people in which repeat visitors account for at least 10% of participants will be eligible for subsidies ranging from NT$10,000 to NT$30,000 per group, per UDN.

The program also targets overseas companies organizing incentive trips to Taiwan. In addition to existing subsidies, an additional NT$1,000 per person per night will be provided when travelers stay at legal accommodations south of Taichung, in Hualien or Taitung, or on outlying islands.

The additional subsidy is capped at NT$4,000 per trip. Applications must generally be submitted at least 15 days before arrival, or earlier when the application date falls before a national holiday. The incentive program for international travelers attending conferences and exhibitions in Taiwan will run from Sept. 1 through March 31, 2027.

Eligible visitors can receive a free half-day or full-day Taiwan sightseeing bus tour and a Taiwan PASS High-Speed Rail Edition. The Tourism Administration encouraged travelers to plan ahead and check participating accommodations, booking platforms, and available discounts before making reservations. A list of participating accommodations and booking platforms is available at TaiwanStay.

The Tourism Administration said each national ID number can be used only once in the weekday accommodation and birthday voucher programs. Only one incentive from each program can be used per room per night. For example, if two eligible travelers share a room, only one weekday accommodation subsidy and one birthday voucher can be redeemed for that room on a given night.

Consumers who believe a business has inflated room rates can submit evidence to their local municipal or county government. If the allegations are confirmed, the business may be removed from the program and lose its eligibility to participate.