Melo Villareal
Good News! Taiwan to grant visa-free entry to Filipinos starting June 2017
In an effort to attract more travelers from the Southeast Asia region, Taiwan will start allowing travelers for the Philippines enter the country visa-free. According to the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), visitors from the Philippines can stay in Taiwan without having a visa for up to 30 days starting from June 1 this year, according to a report from ABS-CBN News.
One year trial
Although the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Manila is yet to release final details, it is understood that the grant will initially go through a one-year trial basis before being fully implemented.
A favorite destination for Filipinos
In the recent years, Taiwan has become one of the most preferred destinations for Filipino travelers. The visa-free entry offer is an implementation of the Taiwanese government’s policy to make it easier for visitors from neighboring countries to enjoy visiting and staying in the country while on business or holiday.
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A further incentive
One of the first incentives that Taiwan gave to Filipinos willing to visit the country came in October last year. Back then, the Taiwanese government relaxed visa requirements for all Philippines nationals who had already been issued visas to travel to Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US and any of the Schengen countries. With the visa-free travel policy, more Filipinos are expected to flock Taiwan in the coming years. According to reports from a Taiwan website, the official announcement is expected to be made once the Holy Week is over.
A boost to the tourism sector
The announcement will come as good news to Taiwan’s tourism sector, which is an important contributor to the country’s economy. Currently, the Southeast Asian region accounts for a significant percentage of all tourists that visit Taiwan each year. The Philippines is particularly well placed, with a flight from the country to Taiwan taking less than two hours.
In the recent past, visa-free tourism is becoming popular as countries seek to lure more foreigners to visit their country.
Source: ABS-CBN News
Also Read:
- Tours in Taipei: Exploring the Northeast Coast of Taiwan
- Eight Things I Love About Taiwan
- Travel Visa-free in Taiwan for Filipino Travelers: Here’s How
- The Ultimate Taipei Travel Guide
