Taiwan is set to waive visa requirements for citizens of Thailand and Brunei for a one-year trial period in a move designed to boost tourism. The trial period will begin on August 1 and run until July 31 next year.
The decision is part of the government’s Southbound Policy, which aims to bring Taiwan closer to Southeast Asia and India. Many Southeast Asian visitors are Singaporeans and Malaysians, who already enjoy visa-free access to Taiwan. But the government hopes to attract visitors from other countries in the region too.
Taiwan’s Central News Agency reports a recent surge in the number of Thai visitors in particular, with arrivals up nearly 88% in the first five months of the year. Under the temporary visa waiver, visitors from Thailand and Brunei will be allowed 30-day visa-free stays in Taiwan.
Taiwan also grants visa-free access to citizens of other ASEAN members and India if they have received visas from the US, Canada, the UK, the Schengen Zone, Japan, South Korea, Australia, or New Zealand in the previous ten years. Those eligible for this visa waiver must register online before travelling to Taiwan.
The Cabinet expects that its visa policies will bring in an additional NT$13 billion (more than US$407 million) in tourist revenue from South and Southeast Asia.
Thailand and Brunei both offer visas on arrival to Taiwanese nationals, but the foreign ministry says it will continue working to secure visa-free access to both countries based on the principle of reciprocity.