After a hiatus of two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a government-run travel subsidy plan for the elderly population is back on track. Not only that, people with disabilities will be able to apply for travel subsidies too.
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Now families with members who are 65 years of age or older can form a tour group and get travel subsidies for the elderly members. The good news came just in time as summer vacation kicks off.
There are certain requirements though. The family must choose a tour package arranged by a travel agency. A group must have at least six people, and half of them must be aged 65 or above. And the itinerary must include at least one night’s stay at a hotel. After the tourism bureau approves all the necessary applications sent by the travel agency, each senior in the group will be entitled to a NT$500 subsidy.
People with disabilities can also apply for travel subsidies. As long as the tour group rents assistive devices and an accessible vehicle, and hires a licensed caregiver, then they’re good to go. Again, a travel agency must do all the application processing with the tourism bureau to get approval for the subsidies.
Taiwan’s tourism sector sees traveling for the elderly becoming a trend as the aging population continues to grow.