TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwan was hoping to welcome 9 million visitors this year, but flooding in Hualien will make the target difficult to reach, the Tourism Administration said Tuesday.

For the period January through November, the country recorded 7.6 million overseas visitors. Reaching 9 million will be difficult, as typhoons caused flight cancellations and the September barrier lake overflow in Hualien kept visitors away from the popular scenic destination.

The original target was 10 million visitors, but when Administration Director General Chen Yu-hsiu (陳玉秀) took office in July, she said 9 million would be easier to achieve, per CNA. The natural disasters in the Hualien region caused tour groups and individual travelers to cancel reservations and stay away from Taiwan, she said.

On average, 1 million visitors arrive in Taiwan per month, so by the end of the year, a total of 8.6 million might be possible. The number is still an increase over the 7.85 million recorded for 2024.

Plans are under discussion to encourage previous visitors to return and bring somebody new with them, with the possibility of participating in a draw. There was no decision whether the amount of the prize would equal the NT$5,000 (US$159) from a previous similar program, Chen said, adding a legislative budget review might be a determining factor.