A new subsidy program for domestic travel is welcome news in Taiwan, where many were unable to travel for the last two years. However, travel agencies are feeling anxious, since the tourism bureau has not yet announced details of the program as of June 30.
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A government subsidy program for domestic travel will kick off on July 15. With the summer vacation underway, domestic travel is likely to see a boom.
However, travel agencies are unsure as to what they’re supposed to do because the government hasn’t finalized the details of the scheme yet. The tourism bureau says an announcement will be made as soon as the Cabinet wraps up the administrative procedures.
NT$5.5 billion has been set aside for the subsidy program. It will be handed out from July 15 till December 15 or until it is used up. An individual can get NT$800 off for each night’s accommodation on weekdays. They may get a higher discount if they meet one of six requirements which include staying at a specified hotel and having received three COVID-19 vaccine shots. The maximum subsidy any one person can get per night will be NT$1,300.
However, domestic air tickets have increased in price by an average of 4.8% on Thursday. This is due to global oil price hikes. That means around NT$100 more per ticket than before. Families planning on vacationing on Taiwan’s outlying islands this summer should expect ticket prices to go up even more.