Premier Mao Chi-kuo today enjoined the Ministry of Transportation and Communications' (MOTC) Tourism Bureau to proactively publicize the government's consumption-bolstering program at the 2015 Taipei International Travel Fair (Taipei ITF 2015), which will be held at the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) November 6-9.
The consumption-bolstering program, which will debut on November 7, includes government subsidies to citizens for domestic tourism, accommodation, theme park tickets and transportation.
Via the fair, the Tourism Bureau should also spur the domestic travel industry to provide added incentives to stimulate purchases, Mao added.
The premier made these remarks at today's Cabinet meeting after the MOTC's briefing on its preparations for the fair. He pointed out that the Tourism Bureau has made good use of this platform to formulate exchange activities between domestic and international travel business operators, proactively generating business opportunities for both domestic and overseas tourism industries.
The fair has galvanized the domestic tourism sector to enhance its international reception capabilities and boosted citizens' overseas travel, which is certainly conducive to fostering Taiwan as a major tourism destination in Asia as well as a place for international exchanges. This successful model can serve as exemplar for other agencies in promoting related policies, the premier noted.
In addition, Mao commended that the Taipei ITF, in its 29th year since inception, has not only provided an exceptional platform for resource integration among relevant ministries and agencies, it has also incorporated relevant associations of the domestic tourism industry as well as the participation of various county and city governments. Every year visitors to the fair have reached new heights, and the Taipei ITF is now Asia's most important travel fair. The premier expressed his gratitude to relevant ministries and agencies, local governments and the Taiwan Visitors Association for their hard work.
The MOTC stated that the Taipei ITF debuted in 1987 and to date is in its 23rd term and 29th year. Every ITF has attracted major domestic and overseas tourism organizations and travel agencies to participate.
This year's ITF will feature 1,450 booths from more than 60 countries or areas at the TWTC's Hall 1 and Hall 3.
In order to augment business opportunities for both buyers and sellers and propel Taiwan onto the international stage, a Travel Mart has been organized today inviting 97 overseas buyers to conduct business to business operations, and computer matching has also produced more than 1,000 business partnerships.