Taiwan is considering allowing visa-on-arrival for Indian travelers as a way to attract more tourists from India. This move comes as Taiwan aims to reach a target of 10 million annual tourists, with a focus on the corporate incentive market. Despite the potential benefits of easing visa procedures for Indian travelers, lack of direct flights between Taiwan and India remains a major challenge. Direct flights between the two countries were suspended during the Covid pandemic and have yet to be relaunched, limiting convenient travel options.
In order to boost tourism from India, Taiwan Tourism Administration has taken steps such as opening a Taiwan Tourism Information Centre in Mumbai and appointing a representative in its Singapore office to drive growth in the Indian market. The focus is on attracting Indian Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) travelers, as well as leisure travelers and wedding tourism. Research forecasts that India’s outbound MICE tourism market will reach $13.4 billion by 2031, indicating significant potential for growth in this segment.
India is a key market for business travel, with the country ranking ninth globally for business travel expenditure and fourth in the Asia Pacific region. Business travel expenditure in India is expected to reach $38 billion this year, with a full recovery to pre-pandemic spending levels predicted by 2025. Taiwan Tourism Administration has introduced initiatives such as the Taiwan Specialist Program to educate Indian travel trade professionals about Taiwan’s tourism offerings and held roadshows in major Indian cities to engage with the travel trade representatives, especially focusing on the MICE segment.
The Taiwan government is aiming to attract more Indian tourists by easing visa requirements and focusing on the corporate incentive market. Despite challenges such as the lack of direct flights between Taiwan and India, the country is optimistic about reaching its target of 10 million annual tourists, with a particular emphasis on increasing Indian tourist arrivals. Taiwan has taken steps such as opening a tourism information center in Mumbai and appointing a representative in its Singapore office to drive growth in the Indian market, with a focus on attracting MICE travelers, leisure travelers, and wedding tourism.
The increase in business travel expenditure in India, coupled with the growing interest in incentive trips, presents an opportunity for Taiwan to tap into the corporate travel market. By targeting business travelers and offering specialized programs to educate travel professionals about Taiwan’s offerings, the country is positioning itself as a desirable destination for MICE travelers. With a focus on developing the MICE sector and capitalizing on the growth in business travel spending, Taiwan aims to attract a larger share of Indian tourists and meet its tourism targets in the coming years.
