More visitors from Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau and South Korea to Kaohsiung, up 50%; mainland Chinese tourists decline

▲ Kaohsiung Xiaogang Airport. (Photo / Reporter Li Zhongquan)

Tourism Center / Comprehensive Report

The Kaohsiung City Government pointed out on the 8th that the number of overnight stays by tourists in Kaohsiung exceeded 8 million for the first time last year, a 4.8% increase from the previous year,international tourist arrivals grew by nearly 7%, with the fastest growth coming from Hong Kong & Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan. However, statistics also show a decrease of about 0.15% in mainland Chinese visitors.

According to data released by the Kaohsiung City Government’s Tourism Bureau, the number of tourist overnight stays has been steadily increasing, surpassing 8 million for the first time last year. Director Hsu Chuan-sheng stated,last year, approximately 8.06 million domestic and international visitors stayed overnight in Kaohsiung, a 4.8% increase from 7.69 million the previous year. In terms of overall visitor sources, domestic travelers accounted for around 4.6 million, remaining the largest group with nearly a 5% increase.

Additionally, international tourists numbered about 3.46 million, an increase of nearly 7%, with the fastest-growing markets being Hong Kong & Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and Japan.

▲ Kaohsiung Qijin Ferry. (Photo / Provided by Kaohsiung City Government)

Hsu Chuan-sheng noted that the marketing strategy for domestic travelers includes designing special itineraries suitable for long holidays or with thematic appeal, as well as collaborating with accommodation providers to offer discounts, aiming to attract Taiwanese to revisit Kaohsiung and discover the city’s diverse beauty.As for international tourists, to avoid over-reliance on the mainland Chinese market, the city government has in recent years continuously developed visitor sources from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and emerging countries. Last year, delegations were organized to promote Kaohsiung tourism in Hong Kong, Osaka (Japan), Busan (South Korea), Singapore, Johor Bahru (Malaysia), and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), and to participate in travel fairs in Hong Kong, Tokyo (Japan), and Malaysia, vigorously promoting package tours planned by local accommodations and recommended free independent travel itineraries by the bureau.

Different promotion strategies are applied for various international markets. Hsu Chuan-sheng analyzed,for instance, Hong Kong & Macau are densely populated with limited space and no agriculture, so last year the Tourism Bureau collaborated with the Agriculture Bureau to launch a “One-Day Farmer” experience, which was very well received. Moreover, Hong Kong & Macau are Chinese-speaking markets with just a one-hour flight, giving them inherent advantages — hence their top growth. Singapore and Malaysia benefited from new low-cost airline routes, attracting many independent travelers. The load factors for Scoot’s “Kaohsiung-Singapore” route and AirAsia’s “Kaohsiung-Kuala Lumpur” route averaged between 80% and 90%, showing strong performance in visitor numbers.

▲ Pier-2 Art Center in Kaohsiung. (Photo / Provided by Kaohsiung City Government)

Hsu Chuan-sheng said that although the South Korean market was affected by the MERS outbreak last year, visitor numbers gradually recovered in the second half. Thanks to the popularity of the Korean drama “The Flower of the Queen,” more South Korean tourists have come to know Kaohsiung, resulting in a 30% growth rate. As for the Japanese market, the depreciation of the yen and Taiwan’s relatively friendly stance toward Japan have led to steady, stable growth.

However, statistics also show,last year, the number of mainland Chinese visitors to Kaohsiung was 240,995, a decrease of about 0.15% compared to 242,451 the previous year. Regarding this, the Tourism Bureau stated that they have taken note and hope it is only due to the impact of elections.