Is Taiwan “Sinking”?

Politics | Travel Industry 

                           Picture from Taiwan, the Heart of Asian

Rumors had circulated before 2016 presidential election in Taiwan that once Tsai, Ing-Wen was elected, China would slash 95% Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan. Now, first part of the rumor has come true, what about next?

A vociferous voice booming out indicates  that China slashing visiting Chinese tourists has affected travel industries in Taiwan profoundly and Taiwan is about to “sink”. On the other hand, a considerable number of people in Taiwan think of the slash as a gain and that Taiwan did survive in the past so can we now. To know whether the island is sinking or “rising,” we should first look at the numbers.

Having an overview of the visiting tourists in Taiwan, last May had 860,000 visiting tourists, this May increased insignificantly, 880,000 visiting tourists. Chinese people were the most visiting tourists in the first half of 2016 but there is a slightly downward trend in last February. International tourists regardless of high/low seasons had a bit of increase.The rate of Chinese tourists among all the international tourists has decreased not a few comparing to the previous four months and arising quite a worry from travel industry that rely on Chinese people’s great consumption abilities. However, the same situation (decreasing number of Chinese tourists)  had happened last March and was even worse. The decrease that month is even higher than this May. But what makes people make this strong protest to Taiwan government?

“The maximum number of Chinese people visiting Taiwan this year(2016) can not exceed a quarter of the total number of which last year,” executive order that is effective from July,2016. This order is issued by China National Tourism Administration to every qualified Taiwan tours agencies in China.

Chinese authorities slashing visiting tourists to Taiwan is the fact that all of us can not ignore. Instead of protesting against DPP, people or I should say travel industries in Taiwan should contemplate its services and marketing ahead. After all, it is the Chinese government who make the decision not Tsai, Ing-Wen. In other words, political conflicts between DPP and CCP occur for over many years. However, Tsai’s government has publicly welcomed Chinese tourists  coming to Taiwan for many times and MAC, Mainland Affair Council, has emphasized to Taiwanese travel industries that “promoting Chinese tourists to Taiwan is an established policy of the Government.”

Will Taiwan “sink” simply because China slashes the number of Chines people visiting Taiwan? No. BUT, if tourism industries keep rely on one single country’s visiting tourists, it will definitely sink in the future. The problem is that we should not “rely on” certain country or countries to earn money from. Thus, international promotion is extremely important! To expand our tourism industries map, Ministry of Foreign Affairs has developed Visa-Waiver Program for tourists from Thailand and Brunei traveling to Taiwan effective August 2016. On the other hand, Taiwan is now aggressively promote its international recognition by launching new tourism promotion, and broadcasting traveling Taiwan channels like Fun Taiwan Adventures on TLC around the world.

Will Taiwan’s tourism industries sink? Hopefully, not.

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