TITF aims to reach new milestones

2015/10/16

The annual Taipei International Travel Fair is to kick off Nov. 6 at the Taipei World Trade Center, featuring 1,450 pavilions from more than 60 countries and territories worldwide.

With 157 booths, Japan is expected to maintain the momentum of its recent tourism boom via this event. Other major international participants include Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and the U.S., according to the Taiwan Visitors Association.

Canada, the Czech Republic and Fiji are returning to the TITF after a few years’ hiatus, adding to the appeal and diversity of the four-day expo.

TVA Chairwoman Janice Lai said the impressive lineup will attract a record crowd of more than 350,000. “About 337,300 people flocked to the travel fair in 2014, and we expect even more visitors to pass through the doors this year, generating over NT$2 billion [US$61.8 million] in business.”

Statistics from the Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications reveal that 12 million overseas visits were made by Taiwan tourists last year. This figure is projected to nearly double in 2015 to 23 million, the bureau said, citing the forecast as a major contributor to the show’s expanding scope and international participation.

According to Lai, industry exchanges and transactions have also been on the rise at the TITF. “A total of 1,455 matchmaking meetings will be held during the event, up by 200 from the previous year. The 98 buyers and tourism operators from over 20 countries also mark a new milestone in the 29-year history of the show.

“We expect these exchanges to further strengthen at the TITF going forward, cementing the expo’s presence as one of the largest trade platforms for the Asia-Pacific tourism sector.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=237763&ctNode=2194&mp=9)