Taiwan and Thailand's Visa-Free Initiative Boosts Bilateral Tourism and Economic Exchange: Kaohsiung Government to Collaborate with Businesses for Investment Promotion in Thailand, Striving to Attract Tourists.
Kaohsiung International Tourism: Experience the Fun and Excitement of Thailand! Following the successful tourism marketing promotion held in Bangkok on October 31, the diverse and abundant tourism resources in Kaohsiung, coupled with the leading "International Tourist Group Subsidy" program in Taiwan, have captured the high interest of Thai travel industry professionals, sparking a surge in enthusiasm for Kaohsiung tourism in Bangkok. The Kaohsiung team, together with Chairman Kang Yu-Cheng and Councilor Kuo Chien-Ming of the Kaohsiung City Council, joined forces in Bangkok and paid a visit on the 1st to the "Taiwan-Thai Business Association" (TTBA) to discuss leveraging Taiwan government's marketing channels in Thailand and the robust resources of Taiwanese business networks. The aim is to vigorously promote the international image of Kaohsiung tourism, attracting a larger number of tourists to visit Kaohsiung.
Director Kao Min-Lin emphasized that Taiwan's exchanges with Thailand have always been close, and Kaohsiung is a crucial hub under Taiwan's New Southbound Policy. The promotional event held by the Tourism Bureau in Bangkok received considerable attention and positive feedback from local businesses, indicating a high level of interest from the Thai industry in investing in Kaohsiung. During the visit to Thailand, the Kaohsiung City Government Tourism Bureau delegation, in collaboration with the City Council, worked together to promote Kaohsiung. They, along with Chairman Kang Yu-Cheng and Councilor Kuo Chien-Ming, paid a visit to the Taiwan-Thai Business Association, striving to secure more exposure opportunities for Kaohsiung in Thailand.
Director Kao Min-Lin expressed the hope that through the robust network, strength, and assistance of Taiwanese businesses on the ground, a "Kaohsiung-Bangkok Twin City Forum" could be established in the future. This forum aims to facilitate interaction and exchange between Kaohsiung and various cities in Thailand, leading to the establishment of friendly sister cities. With the recent announcement by the Thai government regarding visa-free entry for Taiwanese tourists starting from November 10th, Director Kao anticipates deeper exchanges between Kaohsiung and Bangkok in various aspects such as tourism, smart cities, cuisine, cultural festivals, religious beliefs, and the sports industry. This development provides an opportunity to attract more Thai industry investments in Kaohsiung and encourage more Thai tourists to visit the city.
Chairman Kang Yu-Cheng of the Kaohsiung City Council pointed out that the strength of the Taiwan-Thai Business Association is widely recognized within the global Taiwanese business community. The association has attended the world annual meeting in Kaohsiung, bringing in many high-quality members and introducing small and medium-sized enterprises to Kaohsiung. Post-pandemic, Kaohsiung has undergone significant transformation, presenting a new and vibrant image. Many international enterprises have also entered the city for development. Chairman Kang welcomed the Taiwan-Thai Business Association to arrange a visit to Kaohsiung for investment exploration. The Kaohsiung City Council and the city government team are committed to providing full assistance and support for various accompanying measures.
Councilor Kuo Chien-Ming added that Thailand has always been an important market where Taiwanese businesses invest considerable resources and efforts. Many excellent companies from Kaohsiung have established roots in Thailand. Councilor Kuo hopes that the Taiwan-Thai Business Association can integrate resources and teams among its members. He encourages them to visit Kaohsiung for investment exploration and to organize annual activities, conferences, and other events. With Kaohsiung actively promoting investment attraction policies, Councilor Kuo believes that it is an opportune time for the Taiwan-Thai Business Association to invest in Kaohsiung.
Chen Han-Chuan, President of the Taiwan-Thai Business Association, emphasized that Taiwan is one of Thailand's top four investment countries, with many Taiwanese companies being outstanding performers and ranking among the top ten enterprises in Thailand. The Taiwan-Thai Business Association is globally recognized as the best-performing Taiwanese business association, boasting 5,000 corporate members. In addition to assisting the Taiwanese government in promoting the New Southbound Policy, the association actively facilitates in-depth exchanges between Taiwan and Thailand in various fields, including smart cities, technology, agriculture, healthcare, education, charity, religion, and national defense.
Looking ahead, the association plans to encourage its member companies to organize overseas employee incentive trips, large-scale annual meetings, or product launch events, with a preference for hosting such activities in Kaohsiung.
The Tourism Bureau further explained that post-pandemic, Kaohsiung has made comprehensive preparations in terms of both tourism infrastructure and highlights. The city has seen the establishment of international hotels, quality accommodation services, and the provision of a gender-friendly tourism environment and services. Kaohsiung is now ready to welcome visitors from around the world, and it looks forward to expanding tourism cooperation opportunities with Thailand through promotional events and meetings with Thai tourism authorities.
The Bangkok promotional event showcased the diverse, friendly, and hospitable tourism atmosphere of Kaohsiung to Thai travel industry professionals. The face-to-face interaction allowed for the sharing of Kaohsiung's local flavors, making it an excellent form of emotional marketing. This event has added another splendid chapter to the government's Southbound Policy. For more information about upcoming events, please visit the official website, Facebook, and Instagram pages of Kaohsiung Tourism.
