TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taipei Travel Expo, the largest travel fair held in Taiwan over the past six months, concluded Monday at the Taipei World Trade Center, drawing large crowds seeking discounts on overseas travel packages.
Despite rising fuel surcharges and higher travel costs, travel agencies reported strong package sales. Industry representatives said both visitor numbers and sales exceeded last year’s levels, with Japan continuing to dominate as the most popular destination, per SETN.
Tony Chiang (蔣建勳), deputy general manager of EZ-Fly Travel, said visitor numbers on the first day of the expo increased by about 25% to 30% compared with last year, while orders surged 150% over the same period. Chiang attributed the increase partly to concerns over rising fuel surcharges, which prompted many travelers to book trips before prices climb further.
He said about 55% of all bookings were for travel to Japan, with both independent travel and group tours performing strongly. The most popular travel period remains the summer vacation season from July through September, driven mainly by families and family-oriented tour packages.
Lion Travel said more consumers are turning to group tours in an effort to save money through bundled travel packages and related discounts. The company added that demand for Japan routes has not shown signs of slowing, with overall bookings remaining strong, per SETN.
Chiang said the travel expo is traditionally known for offering some of the largest discounts of the year, attracting consumers eager to secure early-bird deals. He noted that while crowds in previous years typically arrived after noon, large numbers of visitors entered the venue immediately after opening this year.
Regarding pricing, Chiang said long-haul destinations offered the largest discounts. European tour packages, for example, were discounted by as much as NT$8,000 (US$250) per person during the expo.
Ultra-early-bird packages for departures after November also included additional discounts of NT$800 per traveler, encouraging customers to plan end-of-year and 2027 trips.
However, Chiang acknowledged that higher fuel surcharges continue to pressure the long-haul travel market. Fuel costs for European routes have increased by about NT$5,000, contributing to a decline in demand for long-haul travel of about 12% to 15%.
In contrast, short- and medium-haul destinations such as Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia have continued to grow despite the higher costs. Many travelers are opting for nearby destinations while waiting for airfare prices on long-haul routes to stabilize before planning trips to Europe and other distant destinations.
