The dramatic sights and sounds of drums, cymbals and lion dancers heralded a gala evening as the Taiwan Tourism Administration (MOTC) celebrated the grand opening of the Taiwan Tourism Information Centre in Richmond B.C. on 02OCT.
The new Information Centre is the first such office in Canada, marking a significant milestone in promoting Taiwan's culture, natural beauty and attractions to the diverse Canadian market. The office will serve as a hub for real-time travel information and will foster partnerships in Western Canada, with the aim of boosting visitor numbers to Taiwan.
Conveniently located near the Richmond-Brighouse Canada Line station and Richmond Centre Shopping Mall, the office will provide travel advisors, media, and Canadian travellers with information about Taiwan, helping to keep the country top of mind as a premier destination.
The centre will offer support in both Chinese and English, ensuring accessible and customized travel resources. Travel trade representatives are encouraged to participate in upcoming workshops at the Information Centre and enroll in the free, online) Taiwan Tourism School and get certified for their destination knowledge.
The official 02OCT ceremony was attended by Deputy Director General Trust Lin of the Taiwan Tourism Administration, Angel Liu, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Vancouver, Sylvia S.H. Lee, Director of the San Francisco Taiwan Tourism Office, Tseng Chih-Ying, CEO of Lotus Travel Tech Group, Jeff Chang, Marketing Director, The Americas, China Airlines, and Cotrina Yeh, General Manager, Vancouver Branch Office, EVA Air.
In his remarks, Lin noted that Tourism Taiwan has established 28 offices around the world, comprised of 18 branch offices and 10 information centres. Canada is a very important market for Taiwan, and Lin said he hopes the centre will help Taiwan reach historical visitation highs for 2025.
"The 2024-2025 period is critical for revitalizing Taiwan's tourism industry post-pandemic," he said. "The Vancouver office is the first in the Americas under our global strategy to establish 10 Taiwan Tourism Information Centers (TTICs), following recent openings in Mumbai, Jakarta, and Paris. This office is strategically positioned to drive Taiwan's tourism growth in North America."
Canada is currently the second-largest source of travellers to Taiwan from the Americas. Tourism Administration Director-General Chou Yung-Hui emphasized the growing importance of the Canadian market, setting a goal of 200,000 visitors from Canada annually.
In 2023, Canadian visitors returned to 70% of pre-pandemic levels, and Tourism Taiwan hopes the new office will help raise awareness of the country’s diverse attractions and will encourage more travel to the island.
With direct flights from both Vancouver and Toronto, and a growing interest in adventure and cultural travel, Canada represents a key market for both leisure and business tourism. The Taiwan Tourism Information Centre and launch of a new "Catch the Waves of Wonder" campaign, reflect a commitment to deepening ties with Canadian travelers and providing them with tailored travel experiences.
To highlight the opening, the Taiwan Tourism Administration has launched a series of Vancouver SkyTrain advertising campaigns as part of its "Taiwan Waves of Wonder" branding. In collaboration with EVA Air and China Airlines, the campaign showcases Taiwan's stunning landscapes on wrapped cars of the Canada Line and SkyTrain systems.
In addition to the launch, a variety of promotions are now available to international inbound visitors. These include a Taiwan "Lucky Draw," offering NT$5,000 in spending money, a buy-one-get-one-free promotion on High-Speed Rail tickets for stations south of Taichung, and discounted "Taiwan Pass" tickets that combine High-Speed Rail, MRT, and Taiwan Tourist Shuttle services. The tourism administration also offers half-day transit tours.
