"Grandpas Over Flowers" Taiwan Travel Show Hits 9.8% Ratings High, Sparking Korean Backpacker Craze

▲ The Korean variety show "Grandpas Over Flowers" Season 2's Taiwan backpacking trip received high praise in Korea, driving a tourism boom to Taiwan. (Photo / Provided by the Tourism Bureau)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The Korean variety show "Grandpas Over Flowers" Season 2 –Grandpas Over Flowers Travel to Taiwan, which features four actors with an average age of 76 taking on backpacking trips abroad that even young people would find challenging, has received rave reviews in Korea after airing. The beautiful landscapes of Taiwan have also significantly increased the number of Koreans interested in visiting the country.

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▲The program preview of “Grandpas Over Flowers” specially featured aerial shots of scenic spots such as Longshan Temple, leaving Taiwanese viewers who watched it exclaiming how beautiful it was (left image / screenshot from YouTube). Sunny, a member of the popular Korean girl group Girls’ Generation, made a special appearance, experiencing the incense-offering culture at Longshan Temple (right image / sourced from YouTube).

The Tourism Bureau stated that from January to July this year, the number of Korean tourists visiting Taiwan has reached nearly 170,000, an increase of 12.93% compared to the same period last year. The broadcast of the program not only raised Taiwan’s profile in Korea but also sparked lively discussions among Korean netizens. Several Korean travel agencies have subsequently launched tour packages to Taiwan. The Taiwan delegation, which attended the Busan Travel Fair in Korea from September 6 to 9 and included representatives from New Taipei City, Taichung City, Kaohsiung City governments, as well as domestic travel agencies and hotels—totaling 15 tourism-related businesses—also noted that many visitors were attracted by Taiwan’s beautiful mountains, rivers, and scenic spots featured in the program, leading to a significant number of inquiries about travel to Taiwan.

Tang Dianwen, the newly appointed Director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Busan under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also stated at the “B2B Taiwan Tourism Promotion and Business Matching Seminar” held on September 9 at Lotte Hotel Busan that Taiwan is a warm and friendly country. Now entering autumn, which is the favorite season for Koreans to enjoy hot springs, various parts of Taiwan not only boast numerous natural hot spring resorts but also offer unique local cuisines rich in ingredients and diverse in flavors. He expressed hope that through this Busan Travel Fair, more Korean people would be introduced to and explore Taiwan.

In addition, following TransAsia Airways and Air Busan, China Airlines also launched a Busan–Taoyuan route starting September 1, offering six flights per week and over a thousand seats. The Tourism Bureau looks forward to collaborating with Korean industry partners and local governments to introduce more diverse travel packages through various channels such as participation in travel fairs, increased flight services, and program collaborations. The goal is to strengthen the message of “Travel Taiwan Now” and achieve the new target of welcoming over 270,000 Korean visitors to Taiwan this year.

▲ The Korean variety show “Grandpas Over Flowers” preview showcases Taiwan’s beautiful sights such as Taroko Gorge in Hualien and Taipei 101 through aerial photography. (Image / sourced from YouTube)

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