Tourism in Taiwan
Tourism in Taiwan is one of the major industries and contributor to the economy of Taiwan. In 2014 Taiwan received more than 9.9 million international visitors, an increase from 8 million international visitors in 2013.[1] Tourism affairs are managed by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications of Taiwan.
Tourist destinations
There are numerous attractions in Taiwan. Major national icons or tourist attractions include:
| City / Area | Attraction | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Taipei | National Palace Museum | One of the largest museums in the world holding Chinese artifacts with over 696,000 pieces. The museum was built after the collection was evacuated from mainland China in 1949 to prevent Communist China from controlling and ultimately destroying any artifacts as part of the Cultural Revolution. |
| Taipei | Presidential Office Building, Taipei | The building housing the Office of the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan). It originally housed the Office of the Governor-General of Taiwan when Taiwan was part of the Empire of Japan from 1895 to 1945. |
| Taipei | Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall | A Memorial Hall built to honor the late President and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek. |
| Taipei | Taipei 101 | Formerly the tallest building in the world from 2004 to 2010. Consisting of 101 floors it is primarily a commercial office building with restaurants, clubs, commercial stores and tourist observatories. |
| Taipei | Shilin Night Market | A night market located in the Shilin District of Taipei, and is often considered to be the largest and most famous night market in the city. |
| Taipei | Mengjia Longshan Temple | One of the oldest temple in Taipei. |
| Hualien | Taroko National Park | One of Taiwan's national parks, with the landmark being Taroko Gorge. |
| Tainan | Fort Zeelandia and Fort Provintia | The oldest city and once an old capital of Taiwan, the city is dotted with ancient temples, shrines and fortress. Tainan is also famous for its traditional Taiwanese cuisine and night markets. |
| Taichung/ Nantou | Sun Moon Lake | A popular scenic spot. The lake is the largest body of water in Taiwan, situated in Yuchi, Nantou, the area around the Sun Moon Lake is home to the Taiwanese indigenous Thao tribe. |
| Kenting | Spring Scream | An annual outdoor music festival held in early April, featuring local and international folk, punk, and rock musicians and artists. |
| Chiayi | Alishan National Scenic Area | A mountainous natural preserve that includes vibrant wilderness, forests, four villages, waterfalls, high altitude tea plantations, and the famous Alishan Forest Railway, and several hiking trails. It is also a famous flower spotting, particularly cherry blossom, destination during spring time. |
Tourism Statistics
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International Visitors in Taiwan
The Top 10 International Visitors in Taiwan are:
| Rank | Country / Territory | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | 3,987,152 | 2,874,702 |
| 2 |  Japan | 1,634,790 | 1,421,550 |
| 3 |  Hong Kong  Macau | 1,375,770 | 1,183,342 |
| 4 |  South Korea | 527,684 | 351,301 |
| 5 |  United States | 458,691 | 414,060 |
| 6 |  Malaysia | 439,240 | 394,326 |
| 7 |  Singapore | 376,235 | 364,733 |
| 8 |  Indonesia | 182,704 | 171,299 |
| 9 |  Vietnam | 137,177 | 118,467 |
| 10 |  Philippines | 136,978 | 99,698 |
| Source: Tourism Bureau, Taiwan [2][3] | |||
Types of Tourism
Tourism in Taiwan is limited to business, pleasure, visiting relatives, conferences, study, exhibitions, medical treatment and others.[1]
There has been a surge in tourism numbers noticeably around election time in Taiwan, especially tourists from China as there are no democratic elections in China.[4]
Tourism revenue
The 2013 annual income for Taiwan from tourism-related industries topped at NT$366.8 billion (US$12.3 billion), an increase of 4.7% from the previous year. The average daily spending of each tourist in 2013 was US$224.07, a decrease of 4.37% from the previous year.[5]
Tourism Infrastructure
International airports
Tourists mainly arrive by air and Taoyuan International Airport serves as the most popular airport bringing international tourists into Taiwan as it is the largest airport in Taiwan and important regional hub. Other major airports in Taiwan which facilitate international visitors include Kaohsiung International Airport servicing southern Taiwan, Taichung Airport servicing central Taiwan and Taipei Songshan Airport servicing central Taipei.
Ground Transportation in Taiwan
Tourists are able to travel island wide using a wide variety of methods. The most popular being Taiwan High Speed Rail, conventional rail on the Taiwan Rail and the metropolitan cities' metro systems such as the Taipei Metro and Kaohsiung MRT as a result of multiple transport hubs which allow users to easily change between the different options. Tourist buses and taxis are also popular.
See also
References
- 1 2 "Tourism Bureau, M.O.T.C. Republic of China (Taiwan) Visitor Arrivals by Residence, 2014". admin.taiwan.net.tw. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
- ↑ "Tourism Bureau, M.O.T.C. Republic of China (Taiwan) Visitor Arrivals by Residence, 2014". admin.taiwan.net.tw. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
- ↑ "Tourism Bureau, M.O.T.C. Republic of China (Taiwan) Visitor Arrivals by Residence, 2013". admin.taiwan.net.tw. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
- ↑ "Taiwan: Chinese tourists flock to see elections". bbc.com. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
- ↑ "Tourism income reaches record high in 2013: bureau - The China Post". chinapost.com.tw. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
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