“If you haven’t been to Tainan, you haven’t really been to Taiwan.” Tainan named among Asia’s Top 10 Emerging Destinations

Tainan’s clear-boiled beef soup has won over the taste buds of countless visitors. (Photo provided by Tainan City Tourism Bureau)

The world’s largest travel review website TripAdvisor has announced Tainan as the 7th among Asia’s Top 10 Emerging Travel Cities in its 2018 list. The Tainan City Tourism Bureau stated that the city has been actively expanding its international market and tourism brand, promoting the message “If you haven’t been to Tainan, you haven’t really been to Taiwan,” which has proven to be a successful marketing strategy.

TripAdvisor’s destination rankings are calculated based on comprehensive data including ratings and reviews from hundreds of millions of global travelers over the past year for hotels, attractions, and restaurants, as well as annual growth trends in search and booking intentions.

As Taiwan’s oldest city, Tainan is known as the “City of Thousands of Temples,” home to numerous deities. It boasts three national scenic areas with abundant tourist resources, and is also a paradise for food lovers. Coupled with its friendly and vibrant city atmosphere and a diverse range of uniquely styled accommodations suitable for various budgets, Tainan has become an attractive destination for travelers worldwide.

Wang Shih-si, Director of the Tourism Bureau, said that Tainan is the birthplace of Taiwanese history and culture. Not only is it vast in area with rich and varied tourism resources, but it was also the first in the country to establish a legally designated tourism area and was awarded the honor of Excellent City for Quality Accommodation.

Since 2016, the Tourism Bureau has been the first in Taiwan to collaborate with TripAdvisor, and in 2017, it pioneered the launch of the Neighborhood feature in three languages—Chinese, English, and Japanese. This allows international travelers to quickly understand the characteristics of different districts and routes, grasp the main highlights of their trip, and then delve deeper into experiencing Tainan. This approach helps reduce travel time and costs, successfully attracting greater interest from hundreds of millions of global travelers on TripAdvisor.

The Tourism Bureau noted that Tainan has been actively developing its international market and tourism brand, promoting the slogan “If you haven’t been to Tainan, you haven’t really been to Taiwan” both domestically and abroad. In addition to launching direct flight routes between Tainan and Hong Kong, Tainan and Osaka, and Tainan and Ho Chi Minh City, the city has also participated in the “Hong Kong International Travel Expo.” In recent years, events such as the “Hong Kong Tainan Snack Festival” and the “Red Chair Tourism Promotion Conference” in Osaka have been held. At the end of 2017, Tainan was even invited by the Osaka City Government to participate in the annual “Osaka Light Festival,” becoming the first overseas city to take part in the event.

Furthermore, the Tourism Bureau has actively sought exposure in print and digital media—including magazines, airports, buses, and travel agencies—in regions such as Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea, showcasing the multifaceted charm of Tainan and creating repeated opportunities for international visibility.

Starting now, the official Facebook fan page “Tainan Travel” will also host the “Celebrating Tainan’s Award Win” campaign until January 22. The public can leave comments on the campaign post for a chance to win the limited-edition “2018 Tourism Handbook Notebook.” Everyone is warmly invited to plan your own Tainan trip as the Lunar New Year approaches and experience the charm of Tainan firsthand.