Top Travel Destinations for Taiwanese During Lunar New Year: Tokyo Favorite Abroad, Taipei Tops Domestically

Reported by You Ru / Taipei

This year’s (2013) Lunar New Year holiday spans nine days, and many people have already made travel plans both at home and abroad, marking the start of the year’s first major travel season. Hotels.com, analyzing the search patterns of Taiwanese travelers, has published the most popular tourist spots for Taiwanese during the Lunar New Year holiday (February 9–17, 2013). Compared to last year’s holiday, Taiwanese people show a much stronger desire to travel abroad this year, with Tokyo retaining its top spot as the most favored international destination. Domestically, Taipei City is the most popular travel destination, followed by Kaohsiung.


▲ Japan has consistently been a top travel choice for the public over the years. (Photo / Provided by Travelace Advertising)

This year’s Lunar New Year holiday offers more days off, and the enthusiasm for travel is high. Planning trips ahead of time has become a top priority for travelers. With the Japanese yen continuing to depreciate, traveling to Japan during the Spring Festival has become relatively more affordable. Survey results show that among the top five most popular international vacation spots for Taiwanese, Japan occupies three positions: Tokyo and Osaka in the top two spots, and Kyoto in fourth place. Notably, compared to last year, searches for Osaka and Kyoto have surged by 230% and 221% respectively, while searches for Tokyo—ranked first overseas—have also increased by 136%, showing that the enthusiasm for travel to Japan continues to grow year after year.

Aside from enjoying Japan’s romantic snowy scenery, tropical destinations are also highly popular. Bangkok ranks third among international vacation spots, not only because of its low cost of living but also thanks to budget airlines, allowing travelers to enjoy warm sunshine and go on shopping sprees at great value. Since the launch of direct flights between Taipei and Seoul in April 2012, Seoul has remained a popular destination, ranking fifth in the list of favorite travel spots.

In addition to choosing overseas cities, the Lunar New Year holiday is also a perfect time for short domestic getaways. People can soak up the festive New Year atmosphere, sample local street food, and embark on an in-depth cultural journey. According to search data from Hotels.com, Taipei is the top domestic travel destination for Taiwanese travelers, followed by Kaohsiung, with Taichung in third place. Historic Tainan and scenic Hualien rank fourth and fifth respectively. Interestingly, compared to last year, search interest in Tainan and Hualien has jumped by 89% and 94% respectively, showing a notable rise in popularity this year.