Kaohsiung's International Appeal Attracts Southeast Asian Familiarization Tours Multiple Routes to Create New Tourism Highlights in Southern Taiwan
Updated:2025-08-20
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Kaohsiung's international tourism continues to heat up! Kaohsiung has been Taiwan's top city for tourist arrivals for two consecutive years, surpassing 69.23 million visitors in 2024, ranking first in both tourist numbers and satisfaction ratings across Taiwan, and is the only Taiwanese city to be featured on Agoda's "Asia-Pacific Value Accommodation Recommendations" and Klook's "2025 Global Emerging Travel Destinations." To accelerate international tourism development, Kaohsiung City Government's Tourism Bureau has partnered with tourism operators from Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines through themed familiarization tours and chartered direct flights strategies, showcasing comprehensive attractions including "mountains, sea, rivers, harbors, culture, and cuisine." From Muslim-friendly services to audiovisual marketing, from direct flight convenience to cross-border cooperation, Kaohsiung is becoming the preferred destination for Southeast Asian travelers with its diverse features, opening a new chapter for international tourism in southern Taiwan.
Tourism Bureau Director Kao Min-lin stated that the Tourism Bureau has actively expanded international markets in recent years, forming Kaohsiung International Tourism Teams with industry operators to conduct promotional meetings, B2B consultations, participate in local travel fairs, and visit local tourism organizations and industry representatives in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and other countries, receiving positive feedback from overseas operators with fruitful promotional results. In 2024, international visitor accommodation numbers in Kaohsiung grew by 20% compared to 2023, with both the Philippines and South Korea showing growth of over 40%, Japan growing by over 30%, and Hong Kong, Macau, and other Asian countries also showing nearly 10% increases. The Tourism Bureau has also actively facilitated the resumption or increase of flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Phu Quoc Island, Okinawa, Osaka, Jeju, and Sendai.
Kao Min-lin stated that recently the Tourism Bureau has actively cooperated with overseas offices of the Tourism Administration, STARLUX Airlines, IHG Hotels Group, Kaohsiung Tourism Association, Huafu Travel Agency, Welcome Wonder Travel Service, and Kaohsiung tourism operators to invite operators from Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines to conduct familiarization tours in Kaohsiung, providing in-depth experiences of Kaohsiung's diverse tourism resources and cultural attractions. In early May, cooperation with Huafu Travel Agency on a Vietnam charter flight project successfully attracted 431 travelers, who embarked on 5-day-4-night in-depth tours of southern Taiwan in batches. The first stop was Formosa Boulevard MRT Station, followed by visits to Love River Bay, Kaohsiung Music Center, Great Harbor Bridge, and warehouse complex, with evening dining at Liuhe Night Market. The itinerary included Pier-2 Art Center, Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, Lotus Pond Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, and other cultural landmarks, with Vietnamese travelers exclaiming: "We want to bring our families back to Kaohsiung next time!" Huafu Travel Agency Chairman Liao Yong-dian stated that charter flights not only promote bilateral exchanges but also boost international tourism, and the company will continue to expand diverse flight routes to attract more travelers to see Kaohsiung's beauty and inject momentum into tourism.
Targeting global Muslim travel business opportunities, the Tourism Bureau has also actively assisted operators in obtaining halal certification, with 24 accommodations, 14 restaurants, 4 friendly venues, and 2 travel agencies citywide currently certified, working together to create a Muslim-friendly environment. Simultaneously, the Tourism Bureau has cooperated with Kaohsiung Tourism Association to invite 14 Indonesian travel agencies for familiarization tours, taking light rail tours of Love River Bay, visiting Kaohsiung Port Warehouse No. 2 (KW2), Kaohsiung Music Center, Great Harbor Bridge, and other attractions, while selecting hotels and restaurants with Muslim certification. Indonesian operators were deeply impressed by Kaohsiung's harbor culture and Muslim-friendly environment, not only having Taiwan Soya-mixed Meat Museum, Red Barn Factory, and other tourism factories available for visits and experiences, but also being able to purchase halal-certified Kaohsiung souvenirs. Kaohsiung Tourism Association Chairman Chen Yu-chih stated that the association will continue to cultivate Southeast Asian markets, integrate public and private resources, promote Kaohsiung as a Muslim-friendly tourism city, and actively seek direct flight routes from Indonesia.
The Tourism Bureau added that in response to Southeast Asian young travelers' love for photo-taking and social media sharing travel habits, this time specially designed Instagram-worthy itineraries for Malaysian and Philippine familiarization tours. Malaysian STARLUX Airlines familiarization tour operators experienced "i-Ride Flying Theater," rode the light rail "Totoro Tunnel," visited Cijin Star Tunnel and Dream Mall; the Philippine tour visited Lotus Pond, Fo Guang Shan, and pineapple cake DIY experiences. Operators from both countries praised Kaohsiung's open harbor views, progressive cityscape, and pleasant atmosphere.
Director Kao Min-lin stated that according to a survey by renowned travel website Klook, Taiwan has become a popular destination for Philippine travelers, with visitor numbers to Taiwan growing 33% in 2024 compared to 2023. The Tourism Bureau will also organize another team in the second half of the year to conduct promotional meetings in the Philippines, continuing to expand Southeast Asian tourism markets.
The Tourism Bureau explained that by inviting various familiarization tours and charter flight groups, it has effectively connected Southeast Asian tourism networks, with familiarization itineraries mainly covering landmarks in Asia New Bay Area such as Love River Bay, Pier-2 Art Center, Kaohsiung Music Center, and Great Harbor Bridge, creating an international tourism corridor that has received high recognition from visiting teams, and will continue promotion to attract more international travelers to visit Kaohsiung. For more information, please visit the "Kaohsiung Travel" website or follow the "Kaohsiung Travel" Facebook page for the latest updates.
Tourism Bureau Director Kao Min-lin stated that the Tourism Bureau has actively expanded international markets in recent years, forming Kaohsiung International Tourism Teams with industry operators to conduct promotional meetings, B2B consultations, participate in local travel fairs, and visit local tourism organizations and industry representatives in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and other countries, receiving positive feedback from overseas operators with fruitful promotional results. In 2024, international visitor accommodation numbers in Kaohsiung grew by 20% compared to 2023, with both the Philippines and South Korea showing growth of over 40%, Japan growing by over 30%, and Hong Kong, Macau, and other Asian countries also showing nearly 10% increases. The Tourism Bureau has also actively facilitated the resumption or increase of flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Phu Quoc Island, Okinawa, Osaka, Jeju, and Sendai.
Kao Min-lin stated that recently the Tourism Bureau has actively cooperated with overseas offices of the Tourism Administration, STARLUX Airlines, IHG Hotels Group, Kaohsiung Tourism Association, Huafu Travel Agency, Welcome Wonder Travel Service, and Kaohsiung tourism operators to invite operators from Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines to conduct familiarization tours in Kaohsiung, providing in-depth experiences of Kaohsiung's diverse tourism resources and cultural attractions. In early May, cooperation with Huafu Travel Agency on a Vietnam charter flight project successfully attracted 431 travelers, who embarked on 5-day-4-night in-depth tours of southern Taiwan in batches. The first stop was Formosa Boulevard MRT Station, followed by visits to Love River Bay, Kaohsiung Music Center, Great Harbor Bridge, and warehouse complex, with evening dining at Liuhe Night Market. The itinerary included Pier-2 Art Center, Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, Lotus Pond Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, and other cultural landmarks, with Vietnamese travelers exclaiming: "We want to bring our families back to Kaohsiung next time!" Huafu Travel Agency Chairman Liao Yong-dian stated that charter flights not only promote bilateral exchanges but also boost international tourism, and the company will continue to expand diverse flight routes to attract more travelers to see Kaohsiung's beauty and inject momentum into tourism.
Targeting global Muslim travel business opportunities, the Tourism Bureau has also actively assisted operators in obtaining halal certification, with 24 accommodations, 14 restaurants, 4 friendly venues, and 2 travel agencies citywide currently certified, working together to create a Muslim-friendly environment. Simultaneously, the Tourism Bureau has cooperated with Kaohsiung Tourism Association to invite 14 Indonesian travel agencies for familiarization tours, taking light rail tours of Love River Bay, visiting Kaohsiung Port Warehouse No. 2 (KW2), Kaohsiung Music Center, Great Harbor Bridge, and other attractions, while selecting hotels and restaurants with Muslim certification. Indonesian operators were deeply impressed by Kaohsiung's harbor culture and Muslim-friendly environment, not only having Taiwan Soya-mixed Meat Museum, Red Barn Factory, and other tourism factories available for visits and experiences, but also being able to purchase halal-certified Kaohsiung souvenirs. Kaohsiung Tourism Association Chairman Chen Yu-chih stated that the association will continue to cultivate Southeast Asian markets, integrate public and private resources, promote Kaohsiung as a Muslim-friendly tourism city, and actively seek direct flight routes from Indonesia.
The Tourism Bureau added that in response to Southeast Asian young travelers' love for photo-taking and social media sharing travel habits, this time specially designed Instagram-worthy itineraries for Malaysian and Philippine familiarization tours. Malaysian STARLUX Airlines familiarization tour operators experienced "i-Ride Flying Theater," rode the light rail "Totoro Tunnel," visited Cijin Star Tunnel and Dream Mall; the Philippine tour visited Lotus Pond, Fo Guang Shan, and pineapple cake DIY experiences. Operators from both countries praised Kaohsiung's open harbor views, progressive cityscape, and pleasant atmosphere.
Director Kao Min-lin stated that according to a survey by renowned travel website Klook, Taiwan has become a popular destination for Philippine travelers, with visitor numbers to Taiwan growing 33% in 2024 compared to 2023. The Tourism Bureau will also organize another team in the second half of the year to conduct promotional meetings in the Philippines, continuing to expand Southeast Asian tourism markets.
The Tourism Bureau explained that by inviting various familiarization tours and charter flight groups, it has effectively connected Southeast Asian tourism networks, with familiarization itineraries mainly covering landmarks in Asia New Bay Area such as Love River Bay, Pier-2 Art Center, Kaohsiung Music Center, and Great Harbor Bridge, creating an international tourism corridor that has received high recognition from visiting teams, and will continue promotion to attract more international travelers to visit Kaohsiung. For more information, please visit the "Kaohsiung Travel" website or follow the "Kaohsiung Travel" Facebook page for the latest updates.
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