E-visa program expanded to attract Muslim visitors

2016/10/11

Nine countries, including six in the Middle East, have been added to Taiwan’s e-visa program with immediate effect, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Oct. 7.

Passport holders from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates as well as Montenegro and Dominica can now apply online for visas to Taiwan. The Philippines has also been added to the program on a 12-month trial basis.

“This initiative is primarily aimed at attracting high-end Muslim tourists,” the MOFA said. “Going forward, the ministry will consider adding further nations to the program based on the results of regular implementation reviews.”

The Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications welcomes the policy change, since simplified visa procedures can help significantly bolster foreign visitor numbers, according to Eric K.Y. Lin, director of the bureau’s International Affairs Division.

Lin noted the government has enacted a host of measures aimed at boosting Taiwan’s status as a Muslim-friendly destination. These include a program to assist local travel-related businesses obtain halal certification, with the total expected to surpass 100 by the end of the year.

“Our efforts are paying off, as evidenced by the increasing number of Muslim holidaymakers traveling to the country,” Lin said. Tourism Bureau statistics show that Taiwan welcomed 200,000 such visitors last year, up 11 percent from 2014. “We expect this growth trend to continue this year.”

The official said Taiwan’s improved ranking in the Global Muslim Travel Index 2016 released by MasterCard-CrescentRating highlights growing recognition of the nation among Muslim travelers. In the survey of 130 countries and territories, Taiwan is rated as the seventh best destination outside Organization of Islamic Cooperation member states, up three places from the year before.

Launched Jan. 12, the e-visa program is part of government efforts to increase the scale and diversity of international visitors to the Republic of China (Taiwan). Besides passport holders from the nine new additions, citizens of 21 ROC diplomatic allies and six other countries, as well as travelers from all foreign countries and territories invited to attend major international activities such as conferences, sports events and trade fairs, can apply for e-visas to visit the country.

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=248438&ctNode=2194&mp=9)