Visa-free entry to Thailand ends in September—group tour prices set to rise amid weaker US dollar savings of up to NT$10,000 for US & Canada trips

▲ Japan: Although the exchange rate has dropped, budget airline tickets are more expensive than last year. (Photo / Unbound)

Reported by Jiayun Yu / Compiled from multiple sources

As summer vacation approaches, family travel enters its peak season, with domestic and international travel prices seeing slight increases. Due to the surge in group and family travelers, there’s often a shortage of available accommodations. To meet the growing demand for more refined and diverse travel experiences, group flight quotas are expected to remain insufficient. The Travel Quality Assurance Association of the Republic of China today (18th) released its summer travel trends report to help the public understand what summer tour packages include and their reasonable pricing.

International Travel

Southeast Asia
Except for destinations where prices have increased by NT$1,000 to NT$3,000, the rest remain unchanged compared to the same period last year.
Thailand
Group tour prices will rise by approximately NT$1,200 starting September 1 as Thailand’s visa exemption ends.
Japan
Although ticket prices on various routes have increased and the exchange rate is lower than last year, the net impact is a modest rise. Budget airlines have added new routes to Okayama, Okinawa, Hakodate, Chitose, and Sendai, attracting more backpackers and independent travelers. However, as airline fares are generally higher than last year, assembling your own trip may not necessarily be cheaper.
Mainland China
Thanks to the weaker exchange rate, lower airfares, and the summer travel peak, price adjustments are around NT$1,000 to NT$3,000. Urumqi sees a larger increase due to China Southern Airlines suspending flights, leaving only China Airlines operating the route, resulting in a potential rise of up to NT$8,000 compared to last year.

▲ Before September, tickets for flights and ferries to Matsu were all sold out. (Photo / Provided by netizen lwfzone; please do not reproduce without permission to avoid copyright infringement.)

US & Canada
Due to the weaker US dollar, overall group tour prices have decreased by NT$3,000 to NT$7,000. In Canada, some luxury tour packages have shifted to offering more affordable accommodations at Lake Louise Castle due to high demand, resulting in a price reduction of about NT$5,000 to NT$10,000.

Domestic Travel
The average price for a regular one-day tour is around NT$1,500 or more. On Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, prices start at NT$1,800 or higher, similar to last year. Self-driving and independent travel have significantly increased, becoming a major trend, while group tours are more focused on outlying islands. From April to September, Matsu sees high demand due to its blue tears phenomenon, leading to fully booked flights and ferries. Green Island also faces accommodation shortages due to large visitor numbers, prompting calls for hotels to add camping areas and create new travel options.