Taiwan-South Korea Tourism Exchange Reaches 1 Million Visits in November

Reporter You T-Ru / Comprehensive Report

Taiwan and South Korea achieved 1 million mutual tourist visits in November this year (2014)! The Tourism Bureau stated that Taiwan-South Korea tourism exchanges have officially entered the "million-member club," and with this momentum in the global tourism trend, the bilateral tourism exchange will continue to surge toward the next million.


▲ Promoting Taiwan tourism, Running Man once filmed in Taiwan. (Photo / Provided by the Tourism Bureau)

Looking back at Taiwan-South Korea bilateral exchanges, in 1992, due to the suspension of flights, the number of mutual visitors dropped to a low of 150,000 in 1998. Recognizing the need to strengthen and reopen tourism markets between the two countries, in 2004, the “Taiwan-South Korea Tourism Exchange Conference” was held to discuss issues such as resuming flights, promoting charter services, and educational study tours. The discussions gained attention and active promotion from both government and private sectors. In September of the same year, the two sides signed an agreement to resume flights, and regular Taiwan-South Korea routes officially resumed by the end of that year. By 2005, the total number of mutual visits between the two countries' tourists had grown significantly to 550,000.

To enhance bilateral visits, starting in March 2012, Taipei’s “Songshan Airport” and Seoul’s “Gimpo Airport” began direct flights, with each side operating one flight per day, totaling seven flights per week or 14 flights, increasing annual seat capacity by 145,600. On July 1 of the same year, Taiwan and South Korea extended their mutual visa exemption period to 90 days, allowing citizens from both countries to stay longer and engage in more activities during their visits, thereby strengthening substantive bilateral ties.

In recent years, influenced by Korean wave dramas and entertainment, the number of Taiwanese visiting South Korea has increased annually. To further promote Taiwan, the Tourism Bureau invited Korean celebrities Jung Suk-won and Ivy Chen to serve as brand ambassadors. It also utilized online community platforms such as the microfilm “Thump Thump 24 Hours in Taiwan,” Korean-language websites, mobile apps, and blogs to market Taiwan. Additionally, it invited popular variety shows like “Grandpas Over Flowers,” “Running Man,” and “Dad, Where Are We Going?” to film in Taiwan, boosting Taiwan’s visibility in South Korea.

On the eve of the Tourism Bureau celebrating the milestone of 9 million international visitors to Taiwan, to commemorate the achievement of 1 million Taiwan-South Korea tourism exchanges, on December 1, in collaboration with the Seoul branch of the Korea Tourism Organization, the Bureau reported the good news to the domestic industry during the harvest season at year-end. It also plans to announce in late December in South Korea the milestone of 500,000 South Korean visitors to Taiwan, aiming to strengthen exchanges with the Korean tourism industry and promote Taiwan tourism.