At today's Cabinet meeting Premier Lai Ching-te said that government and public attention is focused on tourism, and that the government will provide unstinting assistance to bolster the industry. He also called on tourism operators to work together to create a friendlier environment for visitors by aiming for a higher standard of customer experience and customer service. By fostering the nation's image as a tourism destination, the industry can establish Taiwan as a top choice for tourism in Asia that will continue to draw visitors from around the world.
Tourism in Taiwan once faced the pressure and challenges posed by the transformation of the industry, said the premier. However, thanks to the combined efforts of the government and private sector in opening a variety of markets and improving the quality of customer care, in 2017 Taiwan drew more than 10 million visitors from abroad for the third year in a row.
Promoting tourism is more than just an opportunity to embrace and connect with the wider world, said Premier Lai. Even more important is welcoming the world into Taiwan, building international goodwill and extending the nation's ability to conduct diplomacy. Taiwan has lately won ever greater praise from international media and on tourism websites, including being selected by the U.K.'s authoritative Rough Guides travel publisher as one of the world's top 10 must-see destinations in 2017. In November, Taiwan formally became only the 12th country in the world to be eligible for the U.S.'s Global Entry program, demonstrating its safety as a destination for international travelers. As such, Taiwan can welcome visitors from around the globe with increased confidence.
Cruise passenger arrivals this year passed the 1 million mark on December 12, said Premier Lai. With the opening of new routes to complement the New Southbound Policy, the industry group Asia Cruise Cooperation will play a major role in drawing visitors. Taiwan is already Asia's second largest source of cruise passengers.