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By Hollie Younger / Staff writer, with CNA
Taiwan and South Korea yesterday held an event in Vancouver promoting tourism to Canadians, devising a sample itinerary for visitors to not only experience the cuisine and culture of both countries, but also undergo health checkups and aesthetic medical treatments.
The Tourism Administration partnered with the Korea Tourism Organization to host the event, inviting more than 100 tourism operators and experts to promote the region.
As fuel prices rise, travel is becoming more expensive, making it more important to promote exciting, yet affordable travel experiences, the agency said.
Photo: CNA
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco Tourism Division Director Sylvia S.H. Lee (李思賢) said she is looking forward to the partnership, adding that Taiwan is easy to access from North America and an incredibly safe destination.
With the changing geopolitical landscape, safety is becoming a primary concern when choosing a travel destination, she said.
Taiwan was recognized this year by the world’s largest cost-of-living database Numbeo, whose safety index ranked Taiwan in fourth place, she added.
Taiwan is also convenient, with a high-speed rail system, Taiwan Railway Corp trains and MRT systems giving tourists multiple transportation options connecting the entire country, she said.
Visitors can also take advantage of three-day unlimited ride passes with the high-speed rail and the Taiwan Pass Railways Edition, which offers unlimited rides on Taiwan Railways for five days, with a choice of one pass for four city metros and four Taiwan Tourist Shuttle lines, she said.
Korea Tourism Organization Toronto office Director Youna Oh said she hopes the initiative would boost the number of Canadian tourists choosing South Korea.
The number of visitors to South Korea in March surpassed levels from before the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2019, while Taiwanese visitors to South Korea grew 95 percent year-on-year, the highest growth rate of any country worldwide, she said.
Last year, about 282,000 Canadians visited South Korea, showing annual growth of 11 percent, she added.
In the first quarter of this year, 10,000 more Canadians traveled to South Korea than the same time last year, showing annual growth of 19 percent, as a March concert by the boyband BTS in Seoul brought many international fans to the city.
When visitors come to South Korea, they have to experience K-pop and Korean cuisine, from kimchi to fried chicken, Korean barbecue and fresh seafood, Oh said.
Not forgetting Taiwan, she added that she also loves bubble tea.
Combining Taiwan and South Korea into one trip is particularly appealing to Canadian travelers, said Margaret Liu (劉治坤), owner of Vancouver-based Formosa Travel Ltd.
The two are home to beautiful mountain and ocean scenery, perfectly suited to nature-loving Canadian tourists, she said.
They are also world leaders in medical services and aesthetic medicine, she said, adding that people can visit Taiwan for comprehensive medical checkups and then South Korea for aesthetic procedures, to be beautiful “both inside and out.”
Mark Greenwood, director of operations at Travel Masters, a top Canadian travel and host agency, led a group to Taiwan in mid-March.
He said they enjoyed the Lantern Festival and visited Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the Taiwan International Orchid Show and the historic city of Tainan.
They also attended an experience in the forests of Yunlin County’s Caoling (草嶺) to roast their own tea and coffee.
Taiwan is a hidden gem, he said, adding that the orchid festival and experience in Caoling left a lasting impression on him.
He said he hopes to package travel experiences to Taiwan to let more Canadian tourists know about the country.