If you’ve never been to Taiwan, and it hasn’t made it to your bucket list yet, the government wants to change that.
The island is nestled between China, Japan, and The Philippines, and boasts gorgeous beaches, ornate temples, and lovely markets. As if that wasn’t enough incentive to visit, the Taiwanese government has launched a campaign that involves paying tourists to come.
The program is part of Taiwan’s plan to attract 6 million tourists this year, and a further 10 million by 2025. “The money will be given out through multiple tourism promotion events this year, rather than giving it all out at once,” said Tourism Bureau Director-General, Chang Shi-chung.
500,000 lucky visitors will receive NT$5,000 (about $165) that can be used for food or accommodation during their vacation. Tour groups will also benefit, with 90,000 tour groups set to get up to NT$20,000 (around $665) depending on how many members there are. Overall, the government has allocated NT$5.3 billion (approximately $174.31 million) to the campaign.
“International tourists who are given NT$5,000 will not receive it until they arrive,” Chang explained. “It will be stored in an electronic ticketing card, which can be used to pay for food, accommodation, and other travel expenses during their time here.”
It is hoped that tourists from key markets like Japan, South Korea, Europe, North America, and countries of the New Southbound Policy will take part in the incentive program.