TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Travel Quality Assurance Association announced Monday that tour prices for Taiwanese travelers to Japan will increase in the second quarter of this year.
The association said rising travel costs, partly due to Japan’s interest rate hike, are expected to push prices up. Group tour costs in the Kansai region are expected to increase by about 10%, while other areas will rise by approximately 5%, per CNA.
Following a previous air disaster, tour package prices to South Korea have fallen, with low-cost airline fares down about 11%. The association said a six-day, four-night tour to Busan and Daegu is priced between NT$12,000 (US$389) and NT$30,000.
Southeast Asia prices are expected to rise about 2% compared to the same period last year, mainly due to higher airfares. A five-day tour to Thailand is priced between NT$24,800 and NT$32,800.
Prices for the US are set to rise 2% to 5%, with 10-day West Coast tours potentially reaching nearly NT$120,000. In Europe, prices are anticipated to increase by 5% to 8%, with tours to Southern France possibly costing up to NT$140,000.
Prices to Central Asia and Africa are expected to jump 20% to 30%, mainly due to higher fuel prices, inflation, and labor shortages. An 11-day tour to Turkey is expected to cost nearly NT$110,000.
Australian group tour costs will decrease by about 4% due to favorable exchange rates and lower airfares. Meanwhile, prices in New Zealand are expected to rise about 16% due to higher airfares and inflation.
The association added that several Taiwanese airlines are expanding international routes, with China Airlines, Tigerair Taiwan, and Starlux Airlines increasing flights to Japan. United Airlines will launch a new weekly flight between Taiwan and Guam in April, and EVA Air will add a new route to Dallas in November.
According to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, nearly 16.85 million Taiwanese traveled abroad last year. Of those, more than 6 million visited Japan, followed by 2.77 million to China, 1.42 million to South Korea, and 1.25 million to Vietnam.
