Boost for Japanese Independent Travelers to Taiwan! 4,000 Taiwanese Hotels Partner with Renowned Japanese App, Offering One-Click Bus Info in 5 Languages

Japanese independent travel to Taiwan is getting a major upgrade! The Taiwan Hotel Industry Association has officially signed a basic cooperation agreement with Japan's leading navigation technology company, NAVITIME Japan, to jointly promote the digital transformation and enhancement of Taiwan's tourism market starting January 2026. As the market for Japanese tourists visiting Taiwan continues to grow, the two parties began an in-depth collaboration in June, combining NAVITIME's route search and data analytics technology to launch the 'Taiwan Travel by NAVITIME' app. Additionally, information from 4,000 hotels across Taiwan will be promoted in the Japanese market, with full integration of Taiwan's bus routes and real-time arrival data, supporting five languages—Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean—significantly lowering the barrier for independent travelers to Taiwan.

Information from 4,000 Taiwanese member hotels fully integrated into the Japanese app

NAVITIME Japan has long been known for developing digital services that assist foreign tourists visiting Japan. For international travelers who enjoy independent travel in Japan, the 'Japan Travel by NAVITIME' app, developed by NAVITIME Japan, is an essential tool found on nearly every traveler's smartphone.

Starting this year, the Taiwan Hotel Industry Association has partnered with NAVITIME Japan, drawing on the strengths of the 'Japan Travel by NAVITIME' app's navigation technology and itinerary planning features, to co-develop 'Taiwan Travel by NAVITIME'—a dedicated travel planning tool for Taiwan. This enables Japanese and other foreign tourists to seamlessly plan their accommodation and travel itineraries during their independent trips to Taiwan.

According to the agreement signed by Keisuke Onishi, CEO of NAVITIME Japan, and Chung-Yuan Hung, Chairman of the Taiwan Hotel Industry Association, the primary goal of this collaboration is to significantly expand the accommodation database within the 'Taiwan Travel by NAVITIME' application.

As part of the promotion strategy, the Taiwan Hotel Industry Association will leverage its network of 4,000 member hotels across Taiwan, placing dedicated promotional stickers at hotel front desks and distributing brochures to guide arriving foreign tourists to download and use the app. NAVITIME Japan will precisely integrate these hotels' locations and related information into the app's map system, helping travelers become familiar with accommodations before departure and receive real-time local transportation support during their stay.

Supports five languages and covers all public bus routes in Taiwan

'Taiwan Travel by NAVITIME' is a navigation app specifically designed for foreign visitors to Taiwan. It features a comprehensive map of Taiwan, route search, real-time bus arrival information, and specialized route planning for tourist passes. The app interface is available in five languages: Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and English.

Beyond basic navigation, the third core aspect of this agreement is the deep application of tourism data. Both parties will analyze anonymized movement patterns and search data generated by users of the app to help Taiwan's tourism authorities and accommodation providers understand the preferences and transportation needs of international visitors. This data will serve as a crucial reference for future improvements to tourism infrastructure and policy-making.

Leveraging Japanese expertise in tourism navigation

The Taiwan Hotel Industry Association aims to promote sustainable tourism and international exchange

NAVITIME Japan stated that it will apply the experience and inbound tourism expertise accumulated from developing the 'Japan Travel by NAVITIME' app for foreign visitors to Japan, ensuring that international travelers in Taiwan receive accurate, reliable, and safe navigation services to fully enjoy local sightseeing experiences.

Representing Taiwan's accommodation sector, the Taiwan Hotel Industry Association emphasized its long-term commitment to industry development, talent cultivation, international cooperation, and disaster preparedness, actively responding to the global trend toward sustainable tourism. This partnership with a Japanese navigation giant will significantly boost the international visibility of Taiwan's accommodation industry and, through the power of digital technology, create a seamless, smart travel environment for visitors from around the world.