The Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications has ordered the suspension of long-distance one-day tours departing from Taipei. Industry players noted that the decline in mainland Chinese tourists has drastically reduced the demand for sightseeing buses, prompting many operators to join the cutthroat competition in the domestic tourism market by launching cheap and value-packed itineraries. Now, with some one-day tours being taken offline, there are concerns that even more buses may be left without routes, leading them to continue slashing prices to compete for market share and creating a vicious cycle.
The Tourism Bureau stated that domestic tours such as one-day trips to Alishan, Wuling Farm, Qingjing Farm, Smangus, Guanwu, Kenting, and Hualien (departing from Taipei)—which involve long hours on the road or varying road conditions and carry higher product risks—should be taken off the market. For itineraries that require early departures and late returns, the tourism industry should adopt driver rotation systems, utilize diverse modes of transportation, or adjust and modify the itineraries.
Taiwan’s domestic tourism market sees over 150 million trips annually, with an output value exceeding NT$300 billion. However, due to factors such as convenient transportation, most people opt for self-driving tours, with group tours accounting for only about 5%. In the past, most were two-day tours, but with the increase in the number of sightseeing buses, one-day tours have also grown, creating a market opportunity worth billions annually. This segment will now also be affected.
“Taiwan has around 3,000 to 4,000 sightseeing buses dedicated to serving mainland tour groups. With the drop in mainland groups, it’s estimated that 1,000 to 1,500 buses are now idle. Some have joined the competition in domestic one-day tours, making the price war even fiercer,” said a tourism operator surnamed Li. He added that with mainland tour groups no longer running and the one-day tour market shrinking, the price-cutting battle for customers will only intensify.
The tourism industry pointed out that independent travelers from mainland China visiting Taiwan also participate in long-distance one-day tours departing from Taipei, but they generally do not take sightseeing buses, instead often chartering seven- or nine-seater minibuses. Even though these vehicles cover long distances, safety regulations are difficult to enforce. Reducing long-haul routes for one-day tours departing from Taipei could encourage more independent mainland travelers to stay in central and southern Taiwan, which would benefit local accommodations, restaurants, and consumers. However, the overall impact is expected to be limited.