TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — With inbound numbers expected to exceed 9 million this year, Taiwan remains committed to its target of 10 million international visitors, Tourism Administration Director-General Chou Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) said Thursday.
According to Cabinet immigration data, Taiwan recorded more than 4.19 million inbound visitors in the first half of the year, a 10% increase from the same period in 2024. Nearly 2.88 million people entered the country from January to April, up 8.3% year-on-year, per CNA and UDN.
Chou noted that international tourism typically gains momentum in the second half of the year. To capitalize on this trend, the administration has launched a range of promotional campaigns, including new themed railway tours aimed at attracting train enthusiasts from both Taiwan and Japan.
She emphasized the diversity of Taiwan’s inbound tourism market, noting that visitors from Northeast Asia, Southeast and South Asia, China, Hong Kong and Macau, as well as emerging markets in Europe and North America, each account for roughly 30% of total arrivals.
The top five source markets in the first half of 2025 were Japan, Hong Kong and Macau, South Korea, the US, and the Philippines.
Chou credited growth in the US and Philippine markets to increased flight capacity and streamlined visa procedures. Arrivals from Japan and South Korea also saw steady gains, driven by celebrity endorsements and stronger bilateral ties.
In contrast, visitors from Hong Kong and Macau declined slightly, potentially due to the appeal of Japan amid a weaker yen and regional earthquake concerns influencing travel preferences.
On cross-strait travel, Chou said tens of thousands of Chinese tourists have visited Taiwan this year via third countries, in accordance with current regulations. Professional exchanges between the two sides have also continued, she added.
Taiwan initially set a target of 12 million international visitors for 2024 but later revised it to 10 million. The final count reached 7.86 million.
