Tourism in Taiwan

There are numerous attractions in Taiwan. Major national icons or tourist attractions include:

Tourism in Taiwan includes business, pleasure, visiting relatives, conferences, study, exhibitions, medical treatment and others.^[8]

There has been a surge in tourism numbers noticeably around election time in Taiwan, especially tourists from China.^[9] However, tourists from China have declined significantly since President Tsai Ing-Wen took office in 2016.^[10] Tsai is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, which the Chinese Communist Party opposes.^[10] Therefore, the Chinese government has reduced the number of travel visas issued to its citizens to visit Taiwan.^{[example needed]}

Agritourism forms a significant part of the total revenue for the agricultural industry. Many small family farms rely on tourism as their primary means of earning an income. Leisure farms, farm tours, farm stays, and other tourism related activities are popular both with domestic Taiwanese travelers and with international ones. The Taiwanese Agritourism industry has received significant state support.^[11] In 2018 TreeHugger ranked Taiwan the #1 agritourism destination in the world.^[12] In 2021 as a result of the tourism downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Council of Agriculture announced subsidies for leisure farms.^[13]

Fruit tourism is a subsection of agritourism with fruit picking being the prime attraction. Taiwan's diverse subtropical climate means that there is always some sort of fruit in season. Fruit tourism is popular with both domestic and international tourists.^[14] The region of Pingtung in particular is a fruit tourism destination.^[15]

Culinary tourism forms a significant segment of Taiwan's tourist industry.^[16] By 2024, a significant percentage of specialty coffeehouses in Taiwan were roasting their own beans, and tourists had started visiting Taiwan specifically to go "cafe hopping."^[17]

Taiwan has used culinary diplomacy to bolster its tourism sector and to conduct diplomacy in countries with which it has limited official ties.^[18]

In 2015, 87% of Taiwanese had domestic travel for their tourism activities, in which the Kenting National Park became their most favorite destination. They spent an average of NT$9,323 per capita for each vacation, which was mainly for accommodation expenditure.^[19]

The 2013 annual income for Taiwan from tourism-related industries topped at NT$366.8 billion (US$12.3 billion), an increase of 4.7% from the previous year. The average daily spending of each tourist in 2013 was US$224.07, a decrease of 4.37% from the previous year.^[20]

In 2015, total revenue from tourism amounted US$14.39 billion, with an average daily spending by each visitor of US$208.^[21]

In 2015, the average length of stay for each tourist visiting Taiwan was 6.63 nights.^[21]

Taiwan has yet to nominate possible inscriptions in any UNESCO networks, such as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, World Heritage List, World Network of Biosphere Reserves, Creative Cities Network, and Global Geoparks Network, due to China's rejection of the country's entrance to UNESCO.^[22] However, in order make use of the conservation concepts achieved by the UNESCO networks, the Bureau of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture began in 2002 to compile a list of potential world heritage sites in Taiwan with currently 18 entries.^[23]

• 
  Yu Shan, Chiayi
• 
  Jiufen Old Street, New Taipei City
• 
  Taroko National Park, Hualien
• 
  Hinoki Village, Chiayi
• 
  Chihkan Tower, Tainan
• 
  A beach near Kenting
• 
  National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts
• 
  Kaohsiung Music Center lit with Ukrainian flag colors during 2022 Taiwan Lantern Festival

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Taiwan.

• Visa policy of Taiwan
• Tourism in China
• Tourism in Japan
• List of tourist attractions in Taiwan
• List of museums in Taiwan
• List of restaurants in Taiwan
• List of Michelin-starred restaurants in Taiwan
• Kaohsiung Music Center
• National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts
• National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism