Taiwan showers gifts on 8 millionth foreign visitor for 2013

Aya Omote, left, and her husband are greeted by the Tourism Bureau as the 8 millionth visitor to Taiwan, Dec. 31. (Photo/CNA)

Taiwan on Tuesday showered gifts on its 8 millionth foreign visitor for the year, a Japanese bride who is on honeymoon with her husband.

Aya Omote, 32, was given NT$500,000 (US$16,650) worth of gifts that included round-trip air tickets between Taiwan and any other Asian country, hotel accommodation, amusement park tickets and numerous Taiwan souvenirs.

Omote and her new husband arrived at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at 1 pm, bringing the country’s annual foreign visitor number to a record 8 million on the last day of the year. Her husband said when he saw the fuss at the airport, he initially thought his wife had somehow broken the law.

A surprised Omote said she chose Taiwan because of the cuisine. The couple said they planned to visit night markets, as well as popular tourist attractions such as the National Palace Museum and the historic Jiufen township.

Upon their return to Japan, Omote said they will promote Taiwan as a travel destination. They also plan to visit the country again, she added.

Taiwan recorded 7.3 million foreign visitors in 2012 and had projected 7.7 million for 2013, a target that was attained on Dec. 21.

The majority of foreign visitors to Taiwan this year have been from other Asian countries, according to the Tourism Bureau.

Visitor arrivals from South Korea last year increased by an annual 30%, and from Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore and Malaysia by 15% each, the bureau said.

Taiwan’s growing travel market generated an estimated NT$374.2 billion (US$12.5 billion) in foreign exchange over the past year, compared with NT$348.4 billion (US$11.6 billion) in 2012, the bureau said.

It added that the bureau will launch more customized and in-depth tour options in the future to improve the quality of travel in Taiwan.

Taiwan showers gifts on 8 millionth foreign visitor for 2013