Travel executives from Taiwan's leading travel companies were in attendance with leading American travel professionals, including AAA Travel, the largest leisure travel company in the U.S.
SAN FRANCISCO – Hsi-Lin Liu, Deputy Director General of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, and Jim Wunderman, President and CEO of the Bay Area Council recently announced a partnership between both organizations designed to increase travel to San Francisco and Taiwan, as well as incentivize business in both areas.
“The number of American travelers to Taiwan has increased and it is because of all your support,” Hsi-Lin Liu said. “The New York Times has recommended Taiwan as one of the top 52 places to visit in 2014,” Liu added.
President and CEO of the Bay Area Council, Jim Wunderman, welcomed Deputy Director Liu. Wunderman is the voice of business for the region representing 275 of the largest area employers and the delegation. He spoke about economic opportunities for both San Francisco and Taiwan.
“It’s all about building a relationship between the US, and San Francisco, and Taiwan” Wunderman said. “Taiwan is the 7th largest trading partner in California. Exports from California to Taiwan are over 25 billion and that number is growing. Just in the last year, from 2012-2013, that number went up almost 20 percent. So we are in a big growth curve in our exports to Taiwan,” Wunderman said.
Travel executives from Taiwan’s leading travel companies were in attendance with leading American travel professionals, including AAA Travel, the largest leisure travel company in the U.S. Nick Lindsey, AAA Sojourns Managing Executive, explained that the Taiwan Tourism Bureau’s mutli-year campaign to target mainstream Americans had paid off, convincing AAA to add their Lantern Festival Tour to the company’s yearly tour offerings.
“Taiwan uses ‘the Heart of Asia’ as its slogan, but I really feel that the people of Taiwan truly display the heart of Asia,” Lindsey said. “I am very proud to have worked with the Taiwan Tourism Bureau. AAA is going on their 3rd tour focusing on the Lantern Festival in Taiwan, which is an amazing event in Taipei,” Lindsey added.
California offers a rich potential for tourism growth to Taiwan, both with Asian travelers and mainstream American tourists. Deputy Director Liu and his delegation are making new friends and headlines at they spread the word of the exciting adventures the island of Taiwan has to offer.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
