Flower season drives up prices! Group tour fees to Japan, Korea, Europe rise up to NT$5,000 from April to June

▲ Jeju Island in South Korea enters its flower season, and with limited room availability, prices have risen by NT$1,000–3,000 compared to last year. (Photo / Provided by the Jeju Office of Tourism Promotion in Taipei)

Reported by Chen Rui-zhong / Taipei

With the arrival of the second quarter of 2015, the Republic of China Travel Quality Assurance Association announced today (March 6) the pricing trends for group tours across various destinations from April to June. The main factors influencing price changes include flower viewing seasons, airfare, and exchange rates. Japan, which has recently attracted a large number of travelers due to the weaker yen, has seen group tour fees increase by about NT$1,500–3,000 compared to last year, owing to the peak cherry blossom season in April and general price adjustments for buses, restaurants, and other services.

Northeast Asia
This year in Japan, the cherry blossom season began in the south on March 22 and will continue moving northward. Additionally, the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route opens from April 16 to June 22, both of which are popular highlights for travel to Japan this season. Moreover, increased flight options to cities such as Kagoshima, Takamatsu, Okinawa, Osaka, and Fukuoka have added more variety to itineraries. The Quality Assurance Association also noted that although the yen is weaker, ticket prices, restaurant costs, hotel rates, and bus fares have all gone up, resulting in an overall increase in tour fees by about NT$1,500–3,000 compared to last year.
Influenced by the popularity of Korean dramas, many travel packages to South Korea now include filming locations to cater to fans’ interests. South Korea’s cherry blossom season also lasts for about a month starting from the end of March. In addition, the new 24-hour multi-functional water park, BEXCO ELYSIUM in Busan, is another emerging attraction. However, due to high demand from Taiwanese travelers leading to limited flight seats and rising accommodation prices on Jeju Island, overall prices have increased by about NT$1,000–3,000.

Mainland China
The period from April to June is the peak travel season in mainland China. The East China and Southwest China regions, entering their flower seasons, are standout destinations, while the Northeast China region is relatively quieter. Across these areas, pricing is mainly affected by admission fees to attractions, hotel accommodation costs, and airfare fluctuations. Prices in North China, East China, and Southwest China have risen by NT$2,000–10,000 compared to the previous quarter, while Northeast and Central-South China regions have seen decreases of NT$1,000–5,000. However, in the Northwest, scenic spots such as Bayinbuluke and the Tian Shan Highway in Northern Xinjiang have entered their peak tourist seasons, leading to the highest increases in the region, up to NT$18,000–38,000.

▲ April to June is the peak cherry blossom season in Japan, causing price hikes for itineraries to cities like Osaka and Kyoto. (Photo / From the “I Love Osaka” fan page)

Southeast Asia
In Southeast Asia, as it is the low season from April to June, prices remain stable. Corporate group tours and honeymoon trips dominate, and there are many promotional packages being cleared at low prices, with many options available for NT$10,000–20,000 — a great opportunity for budget-conscious travelers.

Indochina Peninsula
Attractions in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar have seen slight price increases, resulting in an overall rise of about NT$500–1,000 compared to the same period last year. However, additional price hikes may occur during the Qingming, Labor, and Dragon Boat Festival holidays.

Americas & Canada
Due to multiple airlines actively deploying new aircraft on routes to the Americas and Canada, seat supply is abundant. Additionally, to stimulate consumption, many operators have absorbed the increased ticket prices for Disney parks. As a result, compared to the same period last year, tour prices to the U.S. have dropped by about NT$5,000–8,000, and those to Canada have decreased by NT$4,000–6,000.

European Routes
April is the peak season for flower viewing and outdoor activities in Europe, especially with the famous tulip season at the Keukenhof Gardens in the Netherlands from March 20 to May 20. As a result, prices have increased by over NT$5,000 compared to January to March this year. However, due to the euro exchange rate, they are still NT$2,000–5,000 cheaper than the same period last year.

Middle East Region
With Turkish Airlines set to launch direct flights to Taipei in April, interest in tourism to the Middle East has increased. Coupled with higher local tour costs and fuel surcharges, prices for Turkey and Greece have risen by NT$3,000–6,000 compared to the previous quarter. Meanwhile, South Africa, India, and Nepal are NT$2,000–5,000 cheaper than the previous quarter.

Australasia Region
The period from April to June is autumn in Australasia, and travel highlights include autumn foliage viewing and seasonal cuisine. The Vivid Sydney light festival from May 28 to June 8 is also worth experiencing. Thanks to favorable exchange rates and lower fuel costs, prices in the Australasia region are NT$2,000–4,000 cheaper than last year.

% Reference table for 2015 April–June group tour prices.