Biggest summer travel fair kicks off on the 24th — operators offer round-trip Korea flights for NT$1,888

▲The biggest summer travel fair, the “2013 Taipei International Travel Fair,” kicks off on the 24th — early bird tickets now discounted NT$50. (Photo / Provided by Shang Lian International)

Travel Center / Taipei Reporting

As summer approaches, the “2013 Taipei International Travel Fair” will take place from May 24 to 27 at Taipei World Trade Center Hall 1. This year, there will be a total of 500 exhibitors and 1,100 booths; notably, the “Madame Tussauds Hong Kong” will showcase over 100 lifelike wax figures of celebrities, including Asian stars such as Andy Lau, Taiwan’s famous entertainers Lin Chi-ling, Barbie Hsu, and Ethan Ruan, among others.

This year’s travel fair is divided into sections for overseas travel, local Taiwan experiences, branded hotels, cross-strait tourism, and the Macau zone. The Macau Tourism Board, which has participated for several consecutive years, will have its largest presence ever this year, with a total of 36 booths — the largest single exhibitor at the event. As this is a major pre-summer holiday travel fair, many operators are offering heavily discounted deals. International options include “round-trip Korea flights for NT$1,888, Korea packages for NT$6,888, Guam for NT$14,900, Europe for NT$22,900, and Hokkaido for NT$27,900,” while domestic travel deals start as low as 2.6 discounts off summer tour packages.

For ticket purchases, the organizers are offering an early bird discount — buy your ticket at 7-Eleven or FamilyMart convenience stores from now until May 20 and get NT$50 off (original price NT$180, discounted price NT$130). On the opening day, May 24 at 12:00, those with pre-sale tickets can participate in the “500 lucky gift bags giveaway!” featuring plane tickets, accommodation vouchers, local snacks, and other amazing giveaways including flight tickets, lodging certificates, meal vouchers... and more, with the grand prize being a round-trip ticket between Taipei and Hong Kong or Macau. Limited quantities are available at the designated queue area on opening day, May 24, and will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis.

(For details, please visit the official website of the Taipei International Travel Fair: www.tte.tw)