With rocketing numbers from Mainland China, Taiwan looks to surpass again last year’s record in total foreign tourist arrivals in 2012.
TAIPEI- It might not always please local Taiwanese, but tourism to the Island is more and more dependant of Mainland China. According to the latest data from Taiwan tourism, the total number of visitors between January and October of this year reached 5,937,265 arrivals, up 1,117,718 or 23.19% from the 4,819,547 in the same period last year. The arrivals included 3,077,773 foreign visitors and 2,859,492 Overseas Chinese.
Compared with last year, the number of foreign visitors increased by 222,756 or 7.8% while the number of Overseas Chinese visitors increased by 894,962 or 45.56%.
Mainland China is now Taiwan’s largest incoming market, generating during the first ten months of 2012 some 2.12 million arrivals, up by 52.2%. Mainland China accounts now for 35.63% of the total foreign arrivals to the Island. Japanese travellers still represent the second largest market for Taiwan representing close to 20% of all arrivals. However, they are now at far distance from Mainland China, representing “only” 1.19 million visits during the first ten months of the year. Hong and Macao follow with 843,561 or 14.21% market share. After many years of stagnation, total arrivals from both special administrative regions are up by 28.72%. Southeast Asia is also progressing –albeit at a less hectic pace.
During the first ten months of 2012, total arrivals reached 862,381, up by 4.99%. Among Taiwan larger incoming markets within Asia, Korean arrivals reached 211,663 up by 5.19% over 2011.
Disappointing are however figures from both Europe and the USA. While total European arrivals still managed to progress by a modest 2.1% to reach 178,371 during the first ten months of 2012, USA arrivals were down by 0.45% at 334,646.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
