Convenience stores vie for mainland tourists with free travel gift packs

Text & Photography / Chi Binghui

 

With the countdown to the launch of individual travel for mainland tourists visiting Taiwan underway, various industries are gearing up and preparing measures to welcome this wave of tourism. Taiwan boasts the highest density of convenience stores in the world, ranking top in convenience among nations. These stores will become the “first stop” for mainland tourists, and 7-ELEVEN has partnered with eight major mainland travel agencies to give away free “Free Travel Gift Packs.” Packed with numerous benefits, these packs can be used at all 4,760 7-ELEVEN stores across Taiwan. Stores in tourist areas also feature a “Taiwan Goodies” section, selling popular souvenirs, cosmetics, and even Deng Lijun (Teresa Teng) merchandise—offering a diverse selection.

 

> Tsai Duc-chang, General Manager of the Marketing Group at 7-ELEVEN, said that in the past, mainland tourists visiting Taiwan usually traveled in groups, limiting their visits to sightseeing spots around the island. However, with the introduction of individual travel, the experience will shift toward deeper, more cultural exploration—using public transport such as the MRT and high-speed rail to reach local attractions. The ubiquitous 7-ELEVEN stores in Taiwan serve as tourist information centers, offering a variety of convenient services. In addition to covering food, drinks, entertainment, and more, tourists can also pick up free Taipei/Kaohsiung pocket maps. The travel magazine 7-WATCH will also launch a special island-wide free travel edition in July to meet various needs.

 

 

In the past, mainland tourists’ favorite items to grab at 7-ELEVEN included “My Beauty Diary” face masks, “MIT” (Made in Taiwan) products, DHC cosmetics, tea and pineapple cake gift boxes, or products featuring the word “Taiwan.” Therefore, the “Free Travel Gift Pack” planned by 7-ELEVEN includes a choice between an icash EasyCard (worth NT$666) and 7-WiFi (worth NT$616), two My Beauty Diary face masks, a welcome drink (CITY CAFÉ or Slurpee), 7-Mobile discount vouchers, DHC discount vouchers, Taiwan Gold Medal Beer discount vouchers, and a total of 10 products. Mainland tourists can obtain the gift pack after applying through one of the designated eight travel agencies (Shanghai China Travel Service, Xiamen C&D Corporation, Xiamen Tourism Group, etc.). Limited to 60,000 packs, available while supplies last.