Taiwan targets Muslim visitors
KOTA KINABALU: With tourism as one of its major economic contributors, Taiwan continues its endeavours in expanding the industry by promoting Muslim tourism.
Last year, 474,000 tourists from Malaysia visited the island nation, showing a 9.95 per cent increase from 2015.
Furthermore, a survey in 2015 ranked Taiwan among the top 10 destinations for Muslim travellers, placing it among other popular tourist destinations such as Singapore, Thailand, the UK, France and Hong Kong, whilst outperforming 33 other countries and territories.
Taiwan Tourism Bureau KL office deputy director Cindy Chen said the Bureau would focus on central Taiwan this year to promote new places for tourists to visit.
“We try to emphasise on the central or southern part of Taiwan, because most tourists are familiar with Taipei and the northern part, especially Malaysian tourists.
“We will cooperate with travel agents and we hope they can come here to join our familiarisation trips so that when they go back to their country, they can offer the package to locals,” she said, adding that the Bureau will collaborate with airlines as well.
Cindy stressed that for familiarisation trips, it is imperative to select travel agents that are suitable for the Muslim market.
As of now, she said that only six companies in East Malaysia were working in tandem with the Bureau, with over 20 in West Malaysia.
She said that it was because travel agents in West Malaysia had been organising familiarisation trips for a while now, whereas East Malaysia only began last year, spearheaded by Let Fun Management Sdn Bhd.
Cindy said that for the time being, Muslim-friendly tour packages to Taiwan would comprise Taipei to Taichung first, as it is still a new market.
“Given that we are still just trying to penetrate the market, it would be premature to prepare a more extensive package.
“However, we will definitely keep expanding to more parts in the future as this is a step-by-step process,” she said.
Despite the unfamiliarity with the market, Cindy said that industry players responded well to prepare for Muslim visitors.
“Restaurant owners and hotel operators accepted it well. They were willing to go through the necessary training and certification procedures because they wanted the market.
“Now, of course Taipei has the most halal-certified restaurants because it is our capital city.
“However, we are constantly upgrading and increasing the number of Muslim-friendly restaurants in other parts,” she said, adding that therewere now at least 100 certified restaurants and hotels throughout the island nation, with the number rising each year.
Meanwhile, Angela Lojonon of Sabah-based Rejoice Tours & Travel Services Sdn. Bhd. said that Sabah had room for improvement to better serve tourists.
Angela, who was part of a fiveday four-night familiarisation trip to Taiwan from February 1822, observed that Sabah had much to learn from Taiwan.
“When it comes to effort, I think we’re on the same level as Taiwan because we are also struggling to promote tourism here. The difference is in our local service, places of interest and hotels.
“From the familiarisation trip to Taiwan, I observed the way they maintain their services and attractions, especially in terms of cleanliness and safety.
“We feel safe as tourists in Taiwan, whereas we do not feel that kind of security in our own backyard. In those terms, I think we still need to improve,” she said.
The Tourism Management major added that accommodation, transportation, event planning and dining here also needed to be held to a higher standard, saying that the services provided need to be in tip top condition to attract tourists.