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Kaohsiung Tourism Bureau Teams Up with International Partners to Capture Northeast and Southeast Asian Tourism Markets
Post date:2024-12-19
Update:2025-01-15
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The Tourism Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government has been making significant strides in expanding its international tourism reach. Working alongside local tourism industry players, the Bureau has formed the Kaohsiung International Tourism Team, which has visited countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, and Vietnam to conduct tourism promotional events and B2B meetings, and participate in travel exhibitions. The successful hosting of the "15th Taiwan-Japan Tourism Summit" in May this year garnered widespread acclaim from overseas tourism operators, marking substantial achievements in international tourism marketing. Director-general Min-Lin Kao reported that Japanese overnight stays in Kaohsiung reached 160 thousand from January to October this year, marking a 40% increase compared to the number from the same period of the previous year. Korean visitors numbered 120 thousand, up by 50%, while visitors from Hong Kong, Macau, and Southeast Asian nations like Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines showed an average 30% growth. This growth has led to the resumption or increase of direct flights connecting Kaohsiung with Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Kota Kinabalu, and Phu Quoc Island. Capitalizing on this momentum, the Tourism Bureau continues to forge partnerships with international tourism, aviation, and hospitality sectors. It has recently hosted familiarization tours from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Vietnam, showcasing Kaohsiung's diverse tourism attractions and cultural heritage.

Min-Lin Kao explained that these familiarization tours were organized in collaboration with leading international partners, including IHG Hotels & Resorts, EVA Air, Vietnam Airlines, and Vietravel Group. The tours brought together major travel agencies and media outlets from across Asia, including Hong Kong's Connexus Travel, Wing On Travel, and EGL Tours, Korea's HANATOUR, Singapore's Global Travel and FCM, Malaysia's Aavii Worldwide, and Vietnam's Saigontourist, as well as notable Vietnamese media participants such as VietnamPlus, VnExpress, Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV), and Hanoi Radio and Television, all working to establish Kaohsiung as a premier destination for international visitors to Taiwan.
The first tour, organized by EVA Air's Hong Kong office in partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts, welcomed nearly twenty Hong Kong tourism professionals and media representatives, including representatives from long-established agencies Wing On Travel, Connexus Travel, and Japan market specialist EGL Tours. A special welcome dinner was arranged at InterContinental Kaohsiung, featuring a night market theme with various food stalls showcasing local delicacies like bubble tea, roasted duck, and ice cream sandwiches. Guests were thoroughly impressed by this innovative presentation of Taiwan's night market culture. Robbert Manussen, General Manager of IHG Hotels & Resorts (Taiwan), stated: "Our commitment to 'Root locally' drives us to blend innovation with sustainable development, working alongside the Tourism Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government to showcase authentic local culture."
The Tourism Bureau then collaborated with IHG Hotels & Resorts to host multinational familiarization tours from Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea. Participants included leading MICE operators and media representatives such as Korea's HANATOUR Service Inc and Yellow Balloon Tour, Singapore's FCM Singapore and BCD ME, and Malaysia's Aavii Worldwide. The visitors were notably impressed by Kaohsiung's tourism highlights and urban development potential, expressing keen interest in future MICE industry collaborations.
The Vietnamese delegation's visit was ed by the Tourism Bureau's successful promotional event in Ho Chi Minh City in October, which generated significant interest among Vietnamese tourism operators and led to their commitment to organize familiarization tours to Kaohsiung. The Vietnamese group comprised over 50 representatives from Vietnam Airlines, Vietravel Group, and 17 major travel agencies.

Nguyen Nguyet Van Khanh, Vietravel Group's Director and Marketing Director, remarked: "Kaohsiung perfectly blends tradition with modernity, offering a rich mix of culture, cuisine, and coastal charm that appeals to Vietnamese travelers. We're expanding our Taiwan travel offerings and aim to bring more Vietnamese visitors to Kaohsiung in 2025." Vietnam Airlines Group's Passenger Transport Director, Doan Thi Ngoc Anh, added: "This familiarization tour has been invaluable in introducing Kaohsiung to Vietnamese tourism operators, associations, and media. Vietnam Airlines is actively expanding its flight services, with frequent daily connections to Kaohsiung and Taipei performing well. We're confident this tour will lead to increased Vietnamese visitor numbers to Kaohsiung."
The Tourism Bureau detailed that the tour explored key attractions including the Asia New Bay Area, Pier-2 Art Center, and Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal, with special focus on the Asia New Bay Area and cruise operations. The itinerary also covered East Kaohsiung's Meinong, Liugui, and Baolai regions, highlighting local hot springs and natural scenery. A highlight of the tour was attendance at the "2024 Kaohsiung Popcorn Chicken Carnival," offering firsthand experience of Kaohsiung's popular street food culture, with Vietnamese media providing extensive coverage. Participants praised Kaohsiung's urban appeal, efficient public transportation, and comprehensive tourism infrastructure, pledging to actively promote the destination to bring more Vietnamese visitors in the coming year.

The Tourism Bureau emphasized that these multinational familiarization tours aim to strengthen international partnerships, deepen understanding of Kaohsiung's tourism resources, and facilitate the development of new tour packages. The Bureau plans to continue building relationships with international tourism operators to enhance Kaohsiung's global profile.
Min-Lin Kao explained that these familiarization tours were organized in collaboration with leading international partners, including IHG Hotels & Resorts, EVA Air, Vietnam Airlines, and Vietravel Group. The tours brought together major travel agencies and media outlets from across Asia, including Hong Kong's Connexus Travel, Wing On Travel, and EGL Tours, Korea's HANATOUR, Singapore's Global Travel and FCM, Malaysia's Aavii Worldwide, and Vietnam's Saigontourist, as well as notable Vietnamese media participants such as VietnamPlus, VnExpress, Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV), and Hanoi Radio and Television, all working to establish Kaohsiung as a premier destination for international visitors to Taiwan.
The first tour, organized by EVA Air's Hong Kong office in partnership with IHG Hotels & Resorts, welcomed nearly twenty Hong Kong tourism professionals and media representatives, including representatives from long-established agencies Wing On Travel, Connexus Travel, and Japan market specialist EGL Tours. A special welcome dinner was arranged at InterContinental Kaohsiung, featuring a night market theme with various food stalls showcasing local delicacies like bubble tea, roasted duck, and ice cream sandwiches. Guests were thoroughly impressed by this innovative presentation of Taiwan's night market culture. Robbert Manussen, General Manager of IHG Hotels & Resorts (Taiwan), stated: "Our commitment to 'Root locally' drives us to blend innovation with sustainable development, working alongside the Tourism Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government to showcase authentic local culture."
The Tourism Bureau then collaborated with IHG Hotels & Resorts to host multinational familiarization tours from Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea. Participants included leading MICE operators and media representatives such as Korea's HANATOUR Service Inc and Yellow Balloon Tour, Singapore's FCM Singapore and BCD ME, and Malaysia's Aavii Worldwide. The visitors were notably impressed by Kaohsiung's tourism highlights and urban development potential, expressing keen interest in future MICE industry collaborations.
The Vietnamese delegation's visit was ed by the Tourism Bureau's successful promotional event in Ho Chi Minh City in October, which generated significant interest among Vietnamese tourism operators and led to their commitment to organize familiarization tours to Kaohsiung. The Vietnamese group comprised over 50 representatives from Vietnam Airlines, Vietravel Group, and 17 major travel agencies.
Nguyen Nguyet Van Khanh, Vietravel Group's Director and Marketing Director, remarked: "Kaohsiung perfectly blends tradition with modernity, offering a rich mix of culture, cuisine, and coastal charm that appeals to Vietnamese travelers. We're expanding our Taiwan travel offerings and aim to bring more Vietnamese visitors to Kaohsiung in 2025." Vietnam Airlines Group's Passenger Transport Director, Doan Thi Ngoc Anh, added: "This familiarization tour has been invaluable in introducing Kaohsiung to Vietnamese tourism operators, associations, and media. Vietnam Airlines is actively expanding its flight services, with frequent daily connections to Kaohsiung and Taipei performing well. We're confident this tour will lead to increased Vietnamese visitor numbers to Kaohsiung."
The Tourism Bureau detailed that the tour explored key attractions including the Asia New Bay Area, Pier-2 Art Center, and Kaohsiung Port Cruise Terminal, with special focus on the Asia New Bay Area and cruise operations. The itinerary also covered East Kaohsiung's Meinong, Liugui, and Baolai regions, highlighting local hot springs and natural scenery. A highlight of the tour was attendance at the "2024 Kaohsiung Popcorn Chicken Carnival," offering firsthand experience of Kaohsiung's popular street food culture, with Vietnamese media providing extensive coverage. Participants praised Kaohsiung's urban appeal, efficient public transportation, and comprehensive tourism infrastructure, pledging to actively promote the destination to bring more Vietnamese visitors in the coming year.
The Tourism Bureau emphasized that these multinational familiarization tours aim to strengthen international partnerships, deepen understanding of Kaohsiung's tourism resources, and facilitate the development of new tour packages. The Bureau plans to continue building relationships with international tourism operators to enhance Kaohsiung's global profile.
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