Fall Travel Expo Kicks Off as Public Rushes for Deals on Philippines & Autumn Foliage Tours

Reported by You T-Ru / Taipei

The 2013 Taiwan International Travel Expo, also known as the Fall Travel Expo, is being held from now until August 26 at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1. The event features major domestic travel agencies, foreign tourism bureaus in Taiwan, and local governments, all showcasing affordable travel packages for popular destinations. Travelers looking to snag deals amid the Philippines' reopening or book early for autumn foliage trips shouldn’t miss this opportunity.


▲ Fall Travel Expo. (Photo / Reported by You T-Ru)
With the lifting of the travel ban to the Philippines, the country’s tourism department has rolled out special offers through various travel agencies to compensate for nearly three months of lost visitors and declining tourist numbers. Following days of heavy rain brought by Typhoon Trami that caused a five-day closure of Boracay, the department is now offering a tax-inclusive package priced at NT$8,888. Philippine Tourism Undersecretary Ritchie Layug stated that the special expo prices sold out within five minutes of going on sale, and future travel sales are expected to perform well.

In addition, the expo also marks the start of the upcoming autumn foliage season. From mid-September, the maple leaves in Kamikochi, Hokkaido, Japan, will begin their colorful descent. Zhang Yaoren, marketing manager at Ming Sheng Travel Agency, which is promoting foliage tours at the expo, noted that the best time to view Japan’s red leaves spans from mid-September to November, with top spots including Tohoku, Kurobe Tateyama, Kyoto, and Shikoku. Travelers planning to witness the autumn foliage can take advantage of the expo to compare prices and book their foliage tours in advance.