The Biggest Travel Fair of the Year is Coming – You Guozhen: Northeast Asia Still Stands Out

Reported by Chen Ziying / Taipei

The biggest travel fair of the year, the “ITF Taipei International Travel Fair,” is set to kick off next week. The organizer, the Taiwan Visitors Association, held a promotional press conference this (29th) afternoon, with various airlines and travel agencies announcing attractive prices to generate early excitement for the event. AndYou Guozhen, Deputy General Manager of Lion Travel, believes that Northeast Asia will continue to have a standout advantage at this year’s travel fair.


▲ The Taipei International Travel Fair will take place next week. (Photo / File photo, photographed by Chen Ziying)

Speaking about the trends for this year’s travel fair, You Guozhen, Deputy General Manager of Lion Travel, said that Northeast Asia will still dominate, especially Japan, which remains very promising. Particularly after the Open Skies policy, demand has increased. Airlines have added flight frequencies or adjusted aircraft types, making overall supply quite abundant. Coupled with the recent low exchange rate and relatively low airfare prices, package tour prices haven’t dropped noticeably due to higher local transportation costs and supplier pricing. However, the growth in independent travel to Japan has been significant.

You Guozhen further explained that there are several reasons why Japan continues to be a strong choice:

One: Open Skies Policy
Two: Shift of travelers from Southeast Asia due to unfavorable factors to Northeast Asia
Three: Local currency depreciation
Four: Introduction of tax refund system in October
Five: High visibility of promotional efforts by Japan’s official tourism bodies in Taiwan
Six: Clearly themed seasonal products every quarter (cherry blossom viewing in spring, flower appreciation in summer, autumn foliage in fall, skiing in winter)
Seven: Continuous introduction of new travel highlights, such as the new Harry Potter area at Universal Studios Japan launched in July

 
 
▲You Guozhen believes there are many factors contributing to Japan’s continued growth, including clear seasonal travel themes, new attractions, the newly implemented tax refund system, and the heightened focus on the Taiwan market by Japanese tourism authorities. (Photo / Provided by Sagano Romantic Train Co., Ltd., photographed by You [incomplete name], Chen Rui Zhong, and Chen Ziying)

As for South Korea, You Guozhen noted that growth is also significant, but due to low prices and the influence of Korean dramas, it mainly appeals to the younger demographic. Regarding Southeast Asia, he mentioned that base prices are already at their lowest — from airfares to local hotels, transportation, and meals — all are relatively inexpensive. With Bangkok and the Philippines gradually stabilizing, many people are choosing Southeast Asia for vacation. For example, a five-day trip to Chiang Mai costs approximately 20,000–27,000 NTD.

Regarding travel to Europe and America this year, You Guozhen pointed out that the U.S. will see relatively strong growth, though it still won’t surpass Northeast Asia. Due to the winter holiday, Lunar New Year, and the 228 holiday break, travelers can more flexibly adjust their schedules, so demand for long-haul routes is better than in previous years. European destinations will be more appealing this winter, as Europe’s cultural attractions are less affected by weather, and snowy landscapes are quite attractive to Taiwanese travelers. Additionally, the price difference between winter and summer seasons is quite large, sometimes exceeding ten thousand NTD. This year, long-haul routes to Europe and America at the travel fair are expected to drop to around 8,000 NTD or more.