The surge in tourists from Southeast Asia to Taiwan continues to heat up, with the Philippine market performing particularly well. After a long hiatus, the Tourism Bureau held a three-day 'Taiwan Travel Expo' in June at the Glorietta Shopping Center in Makati, the capital of Manila. Nearly 30 units and over 50 representatives from domestic prefectural governments, airlines, theme parks, and travel agencies participated in the exhibition, demonstrating a strong desire to attract customers. According to the latest statistics from the Tourism Bureau, in the first three months of 2026 alone, the number of tourists from the Philippines to Taiwan has exceeded 210,000, a significant increase of 43% compared to the same period last year, making the Philippines the largest source of tourists for Taiwan in Southeast Asia. If the growth momentum continues, the number of Philippine tourists to Taiwan this year is expected to exceed 700,000, setting a new historical high record. The surge in Philippine tourists to Taiwan! The Tourism Bureau restarts a large-scale travel expo in Manila to attack the new high of 700,000 people this year. Zeny Pallugna, the director of the Marketing Office of the Philippine Tourism Department, emphasized at the opening ceremony that Taiwan is an extremely important tourism partner for the Philippines. She pointed out that in 2025, the number of Taiwanese tourists to the Philippines reached 210,000, making Taiwan the 7th largest international source of tourists for the Philippines; and in the same year, the number of Philippine tourists to Taiwan also exceeded 500,000, showing that the tourism exchanges between the two countries are close and growing rapidly. Many Philippine citizens at the scene praised Taiwan's tourism. According to a report by the Central News Agency, Filipino tourists Jill and Celine, who have visited Taiwan multiple times, said that Taiwan's night market culture and local cuisine are unforgettable. They are currently planning a 7-day in-depth natural exploration trip to Taiwan in the near future, with a special focus on flower farms and mountain hiking programs. Chen Yi-Ting, the director of the Taiwan Tourism Service Office in Manila, analyzed that the surge in tourism between Taiwan and the Philippines is mainly due to three advantages: visa-free convenience, approximately 130 direct flights per week, and Taiwan's safe and friendly tourism environment and convenient transportation. In addition, Taiwan's distinct seasons are even more attractive to Philippine citizens who are constantly hot. This year, the Tourism Bureau will focus on the Philippine market with four major themes: food, culture, leisure, and transit tourism, hoping to continue to refresh the record of tourists to Taiwan. Why do Filipinos love to come to Taiwan? Analysis of 5 Key Attractions In addition to the official promotion of visa-free and route advantages, Philippine tourists regard Taiwan as the first choice for travel destinations, with the following core reasons behind it: Short flight time and high CP value tourism It only takes about 2 hours to fly from Manila to Taipei, which is faster than many domestic inter-island flights in the Philippines. In addition, Taiwan's consumption level is moderate and there are many affordable delicacies, making it the first choice for high cost-performance (CP value) overseas travel for the Philippine middle class and young people. Experience 'four distinct seasons' and flower viewing fruit picking fun The Philippines has a tropical maritime climate and is hot all year round. Taiwan has four distinct seasons, especially spring cherry blossoms, autumn and winter cooling (even snow viewing on Hehuan Mountain), which brings a fresh feeling to Philippine tourists. In addition, Taiwan's leisure farms, four-season fruit picking, and flower sea scenic spots are very suitable for the social habits of Filipinos who love to take photos and check in. Good public security and public transportation are extremely friendly to independent travel Taiwan has good public security and a safe social environment, which is extremely suitable for women or family independent travel. In addition, the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) and THSR (Taiwan High Speed Rail) networks are developed, with many signs in English, and the popularity of English in Taiwan's tourist areas is also high, allowing English-speaking Philippine tourists to travel self-help without obstacles. Night market culture and food attraction The Philippine food culture prefers heavy flavors and meat dishes. Taiwan's night market snacks (such as salt-cured chicken, braised pork rice, beef noodles) and hand-shaken drinks (bubble tea) are very suitable for the taste of Philippine citizens. The experience of combining night market shopping and food is an indispensable part of the Philippine tourists' itinerary in Taiwan. Friendly migrant worker culture and friend propagation effect There are many Filipino migrant workers and new immigrants in Taiwan, establishing a deep civilian connection. Many Filipinos in Taiwan will share their life in Taiwan through social media or invite their friends and relatives in the Philippines to visit Taiwan for both visiting and traveling, forming a strong 'word-of-mouth' effect.

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  • Source: PR Times
  • Category: Event