Philippines Leads Southeast Asia with 210,000 Visitor Arrivals to Taiwan in Q1

Taiwan Tourism Administration Create an Immersive Taiwan Travel Fair with Popular Influencer in Manila

The number of Filipino visitors traveling to Taiwan continues to rise, reaching a new historical high. According to statistics from the Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA), Ministry of Transportation and Communications, more than 210,000 Filipino visitors traveled to Taiwan between January and March 2026, representing a remarkable 43% increase compared with the same period last year and securing the top position among Southeast Asian markets.

To further attract Filipino travelers to Taiwan, the TTA has assembled a Taiwan tourism delegation consisting of 53 representatives from 28 organizations, including local governments, airlines, tourism associations, theme parks, shopping centers, and travel agencies. The delegation will travel to Manila to host the Taiwan Travel Fair, while also organizing Taiwan Tourism Workshops in both Manila and Cebu to strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation and actively expand tourism opportunities.

The Philippines market is primarily driven by Free Independent Travelers (FIT), accounting for 66.2% of arrivals, demonstrating rapid growth and strong development potential. After several years, the TTA has specifically selected Makati, Manila’s key commercial and business district, as the venue for the Taiwan Travel Fair. The area attracts a large number of middle-to-high-income consumers and international business professionals.

The Taiwan Travel Fair will take place from June 12–14 at the Activity Center of Glorietta by Ayala Malls, a shopping center that welcomes approximately 150,000 visitors daily. Positioned at one of the mall’s highest-traffic intersections, the fair will benefit from continuous exposure through giant LED displays showcasing Taiwan promotional videos.

Designed around a vibrant four-season theme integrated with the "Taiwan – Waves of Wonder" brand identity, the exhibition space will recreate iconic Taiwanese elements, including the Alishan Forest Railway and colorful neon street scenes. Through an immersive experiential environment, the fair will highlight Taiwan’s safe, vibrant, and around-the-clock travel experiences.

The event will also feature Taiwanese cultural elements and interactive experiences, including tasting sessions for Taiwan’s signature brown sugar bubble milk, DIY workshops for Dragon Boat Festival Scented Sachet and Lantern Festival sky-lantern-themed ornaments, allowing visitors to experience Taiwan’s unique cultural charm.

To energize the atmosphere, the event will feature performances by the Diabolo Walker, through highly challenging techniques, creative musical arrangements, and dynamic body movements, the group redefines traditional diabolo performances and continues striving toward the world stage of performing arts. alongside interactive Zumba Fitness dance sessions.

To strengthen social media influence, popular Filipino influencer Cocoy Lim has and Rosie Domingo been invited to share travel experiences in Taiwan. Through engaging interactions, the campaign aims to further enhance Filipino audiences’ interest in Taiwan tourism.

In addition, visitors purchasing travel products on-site will receive special gifts, including Taiwan-themed souvenirs. For the first time, the TTA is partnering with Chunghwa Telecom and its EASY sim service to provide complimentary 5-day Taiwan SIM cards, further increasing purchasing incentives and visitor engagement. The event is expected to generate over NT$20 million in business opportunities, demonstrating the strong effectiveness of cross-sector integrated marketing.

To further strengthen industry partnerships, the delegation will host two B2B Taiwan Tourism Workshops on June 15 at Makati Diamond Residences and on June 17 at Radisson Blu Hotel Cebu, with more than 250 participants, including Philippine travel agencies, airlines, and media representatives, expected to attend.

Through this two-city promotional effort, Taiwan aims to facilitate deeper industry exchanges and continue enhancing Taiwan’s visibility within the Philippine travel market.

The Philippines, with a population of approximately 116 million and an average age of just 26, possesses substantial tourism potential driven by its young demographic profile. As economic growth continues and the middle class expands, demand for outbound travel has steadily increased. In 2025, outbound travel from the Philippines reached 7.64 million departures, an increase of 12% over 2024.

Supported by convenient flight connections and Taiwan’s visa-free trial policy, Filipino travelers’ interest in Taiwan has significantly increased, helping Taiwan rise to become the fourth-largest outbound travel destination for the Philippines within a year.

Meanwhile, promotion through social media and short-form video platforms has significantly boosted interest in Taiwanese cuisine, natural landscapes, railway tourism, and festival experiences, particularly among younger travelers.

The TTA emphasized that it will continue working through its Taiwan Tourism Information Center in Manila and closely collaborate with local partners, airlines, digital communities, and influencer resources. Future promotional efforts will focus on four major themes — food, festivals, theme parks, and nature/ecotourism — through targeted marketing strategies designed to further drive Filipino visitor arrivals and elevate Taiwan–Philippines tourism exchanges to new heights.

Now is the perfect time to visit Taiwan, with a range of exciting benefits available for Filipino tourists. Visitors who complete a survey at the Taiwan Pavilion will receive exclusive gifts. If you purchase a travel itinerary to Taiwan worth over 20,000 pesos (PHP), you will also have the chance to win exciting prizes, including round-trip tickets to Manila- Taipei, accommodation vouchers, and other grand prizes! To discover the latest travel deals and exclusive offers, visit Activity Center of Glorietta by Ayala Malls during June 12–14 for the best value and opportunities.