Bangkok, Aug. 9 (CNA) Taiwan is set to participate in an international travel exhibition to be held in Bangkok in a bid to attract more visitors from Thailand, Taiwan's Tourism Bureau said Wednesday.
According to the bureau, it has teamed up with the Taiwan Visitors Association, Taiwanese hotel operators, farm resort operators and souvenir vendors to open a Taiwan pavilion at the Thai International Travel Fair (TITF), which will kick off on Thursday and run through Sunday in the Queen Sirikit Convention Center in Bangkok.
The TITF is held twice a year: once in February and again in August.
The bureau said that Taiwan regards Thailand as one of the fastest-growing markets at a time when the government is pushing its "New Southbound Policy."
The policy is aimed at strengthening ties with Southeast Asia and South Asia in a bid to lessen the country's economic dependence on China.
To attract more travelers from Thailand, the government has granted visa-free privileges to Thai nationals since Aug. 1, 2016, causing the number of Thai arrivals to Taiwan to increase sharply.
According to statistics compiled by the bureau, arrivals from Thailand in August-December 2016 rose 81 percent from a year earlier, and in December alone, the number grew about 90 percent year-on-year.
In 2016, the number of Thai visitors rose almost 60 percent from a year earlier, the data shows.
The bureau said that participation in the TITF is expected to further boost Taiwan's visibility among Thai travelers, adding that Thailand has become an emerging market for Taiwan's tourism sector.
It said that the Taiwanese exhibitors will highlight Taiwan as a romantic destination for foreign visitors, while the country is good for "lifestyles of health and sustainability," as well as shopping.
The bureau said that visitors to the Taiwan pavilion can expect discounts and travel information that can be used when they come to Taiwan.
Among the promotional activities, China Airlines and EVA Airways, Taiwan's two largest international carriers, will offer limited preferential rates for tickets to Taipei.
