Taiwan is launching a NT$33.3 billion tourism program in September 2026, offering repeat foreign visitors up to NT$8,000 in incentives, including NT$5,000 travel credits and additional benefits for companions and group travelers.
Taiwan’s Tourism Administration unveiled a sweeping tourism initiative in September 2026, designed to boost repeat visits from international travelers. The program, part of a NT$33.3 billion (US$1.05 billion) effort, includes NT$5,000 stored-value credits for qualifying repeat visitors, with potential additional benefits for companions and group travelers. The incentives aim to strengthen Taiwan’s appeal as a regional tourism hub amid recovery efforts following pandemic-era disruptions.
Key Program Details and Eligibility
The core of the program is the NT$5,000 (US$157) stored-value travel credit, available to independent foreign travelers who have visited Taiwan since January 1, 2023, and plan to return between October 10, 2026, and March 31, 2027. Registration for the weekly lottery opens on October 1, 2026, with winners able to redeem credits at 7-Eleven stores or load them onto electronic cards like iPASS or EasyCard. A companion traveling with a selected visitor may receive an additional NT$3,000, bringing the total potential benefit to NT$8,000.
Taiwan to give repeat foreign visitors NT$5,000 credit
Eligibility criteria include holding a foreign passport, not having a Taiwan residence permit, and planning a stay of three to 90 days. The program excludes some organized group tours, focusing instead on independent travelers. For groups of four or more, at least 10% of members must be repeat visitors to qualify for subsidies ranging from NT$10,000 to NT$30,000, depending on group size and conditions.
Domestic Incentives and Additional Support
Domestic travelers also benefit from the initiative. Weekday lodging subsidies of up to NT$800 per person per night are available for Taiwanese citizens from September 1 to November 30, 2026. A birthday accommodation voucher of NT$1,200 is offered to 12,000 citizens, with registration open through September 9, 2026. Travelers purchasing the Taiwan Railways Edition of the Taiwan PASS between September 1 and December 31, 2026, can choose between a 50% discount on the pass or an NT$1,500 lodging voucher.
Overseas companies organizing incentive trips to Taiwan will receive NT$1,000 per person per night for groups staying in designated areas, on top of existing incentives. International conference attendees from September 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, will receive a complimentary Taiwan Tour Bus package and a Taiwan HIGH SPEED RAIL (THSR) Edition PASS, including unlimited rail travel and access to metro systems or scenic shuttles.
Taiwan to offer NT$5,000 travel credits to repeat foreign
Context and Broader Implications
International arrivals have shown gradual recovery, with Japanese visitors reaching 1.48 million in 2025—a 12% year-over-year increase. However, this remains 70% of pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Taiwan hopes to capitalize on Japan’s planned reduction of passport fees in July 2026, which could encourage more Japanese travelers to choose Taiwan. The program also aims to attract attendees of trade shows and large-scale events, with support for concerts and exhibitions to enhance the island’s appeal as a destination for major gatherings.
Additional Details from Source Material
Returning foreign visitors to Taiwan can receive NT$5,000 in
The program is part of the Tourism Dual-Engine Drive Program,
which began rolling out in September 2026. It includes weekday lodging subsidies, birthday accommodation vouchers, incentives for international conventions, and support for overseas companies organizing incentive trips in Taiwan. The Tourism Administration will conduct weekly lotteries starting in October 2026 for independent foreign travelers who have previously visited Taiwan.
Eligible travelers must have entered Taiwan at least once after January 1, 2023, and plan to stay between three and 90 days. Registration for the lottery opens at 10 a.m. on October 1, 2026, through a designated website, with the program applying to travelers entering Taiwan between October 10, 2026, and March 31, 2027. The Tourism Administration has yet to announce the number of winners selected each week.
For groups of at least four people, if repeat visitors account for at least 10% of the group, eligible groups may receive between NT$10,000 and NT$30,000, depending on the program’s conditions. Overseas companies organizing incentive trips will receive an additional NT$1,000 per person per night for groups staying at licensed accommodations in Taichung, areas south of Taichung, Hualien, Taitung, or Taiwan’s outlying islands between October 10, 2026, and March 31, 2027. This subsidy is on top of an existing incentive travel program, under which eligible groups can receive NT$20,000 to NT$150,000 per group for three-day, two-night trips, or NT$400 to NT$800 per traveler for stays of at least four days and three nights.
The Tourism Administration approved NT$3.33 billion in funding for the program on August 14, 2026. Travelers can register seven to 90 days before arriving in Taiwan. The program excludes some organized group-tour arrangements, focusing on independent travelers. The administration also mentioned that the repeat-visitor initiative will run from October 10, 2026, through March 31, 2027.
