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Taiwan Introduces Plan to Attract Tourists — by Paying Them

The new incentive program comes as the government aims to draw in six million tourists in 2023 and then 10 million tourists by 2025.

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Taiwan is looking to boost its tourism numbers, and will hand out cash to visitors as an incentive to come.

The island will hand out NT $5,000 (or about $166) to 500,000 individual tourists along with up to NT $20,000 (or about $667) to 90,000 tour groups, CNN reported . The money will be given out digitally after tourists arrive, according to the Taipei Times , and can be used to cover expenses while in Taiwan , including for food or accommodation.

However, travelers looking to plan a trip may want to hold tight since it was not immediately clear when the money would be issued or how to apply for it, according to CNN .

“The money will be given out through multiple tourism promotion events this year, rather than giving it all out at once,” Tourism Bureau Director-General Chang Shi-chung said, according to the Taipei Times . “As such, not all international tourists would receive it.“

The new incentive program comes as the government aims to draw in six million tourists in 2023 and then 10 million tourists by 2025, CNN noted.

Transport Minister Wang Kuo-tsai said the island hopes to use the incentive to bring in visitors from key markets, including Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macao, Europe, and America.

Taiwan welcomes travelers, including from the United States, without the need to test for COVID-19 before their trip, according to the American Institute in Taiwan . The country also dropped quarantine rules in October and eased mask rules in December.

Taiwan isn’t the first destination to pay tourists to visit. In 2021, Malta introduced a scheme to pay tourists to stay in hotels there, and last year, a region in Italy’s northeastern corner chose to cover traveler’s train fare in an effort to promote sustainable travel.

On the other hand, several destinations have introduced plans to collect tourist fees , including Thailand , Venice , and Europe as a whole.

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Taiwan will pay you to come visit in an effort to woo back tourists

People might be traveling again after the pandemic, but prohibitively high airfares are keeping them away from areas that used to be tourist destinations. Now, one of those is fighting back.

Taiwan will offer the U.S. equivalent of $165 to a half-million tourists, part of a multimillion-dollar program to attract visitors to the island. Visitors will have the option of receiving the money via electronic transfer or through discounts.

Tour groups of eight or more are being wooed with incentives of up to $658.

$165 might not sound like a lot, but given the strength of the U.S. dollar in Taiwan, it could stretch a fair way. The average hotel in the country costs just $67 per night , by some estimates (depending on where you stay). Meals can run for under $5 . And many attractions are free.

The incentives come after Taiwan saw less than 1 million visitors come to the country last year. Compare that to nearly 12 million in 2019, which was a record. The disparity was due to the country closing its borders until last October , as part of COVID protocols. The country has also suffered as China has not yet included it on a list of permitted destinations for tour groups.

Before you book your trip, though, it’s worth noting that the government hasn’t yet announced when the promotion will begin.

Taiwan’s not the only country in the region desperately trying to win back tourists. Hong Kong recently announced plans to give out a half-million plane tickets to the country. Those tickets will be released via a lottery in three waves, starting next month.

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Taiwan to give 500,000 tourists perks worth $220 each to boost economy

TAIPEI – Taiwan will offer 500,000 tourists a cash or discount incentive this year as it tries to shore up its post-pandemic travel industry and boost spending. 

The incentives, worth NT$5,000 (S$220) each, were announced on Thursday as part of a NT$5.3 billion package to attract international tourists. 

While some details were not yet available, including whether there were any eligibility requirements or how people would be chosen, officials said in a statement that the money may be handed out electronically or as discounts for accommodation. 

“We hope to accelerate and expand efforts for international tourists to come to Taiwan,” Mr Lin Fu-shan, department director of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, said at a press briefing. The spending plan also included a proposal to offer travel agencies NT$10,000 each for groups of at least eight tourists, and NT$20,000 each for groups of at least 15 tourists.

Taiwan is looking for ways to boost its economy after removing Covid-19 curbs in 2022. Growth is expected to slow in 2023 as the trade-dependent island struggles with a dropoff in exports, making it more important to spur activity through domestic demand and tourism.

Before the pandemic, tourism accounted for about 4 per cent of Taiwan’s gross domestic product, according to Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau. 

But visits came to a near-standstill as Taiwan closed its borders and implemented quarantine rules to contain the virus.

Geopolitical tensions have also chilled the industry, as China banned individual tourists travelling to Taiwan in 2019, and in January left the island off a list of 20 permitted destinations for Chinese tour groups.

Taiwan has taken some steps to welcome visitors, including reopening its borders to individual travellers from Hong Kong and Macau in February. The government wants to attract six million tourists in 2023, Transportation Minister Wang Kwo-tsai said earlier.

After reopening last October, Taiwan attracted nearly 900,000 tourists in 2022, according to a statement from Taiwan’s Transportation Ministry.

The tourism announcement was part of a larger NT$380 billion stimulus package that was approved via a special act by lawmakers this week. Lawmakers still need to sign off on where all of the funds are used specifically.

Other parts of that plan – paid for using surplus tax revenue – include allocating funds for use by the state-owned Taiwan Power Company and health insurance system. 

That broader package has been in the works for a while, but Thursday was the first time officials detailed several of the specifics, including the plan for tourists. Officials are expected to release more details in the afternoon.

Taiwan’s campaign comes as others in the region also roll out initiatives to attract tourists. The “Hello Hong Kong” campaign, for example, involves giving out 500,000 air tickets among other perks.  BLOOMBERG

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Taiwan is paying people to come visit

The government is also offering cash incentives to hotels to get more workers in the hospitality business.

By Sarah Gambles

If you’ve ever wanted to visit Taiwan, now might be your perfect opportunity. The Asian country is offering a cash incentive to tourists who come.

Taiwan’s government is offering $165 to up to 500,000 individual tourists to increase tourism to the island. Taiwan’s Premier Chen Chien-jen announced that the government hopes “to attract six million tourists in 2023, doubling that figure in 2024 and aiming for 10 million visitors by 2025,” CNN Travel reported.

Tour groups could receive up to $658.

“The money will be given out through multiple tourism promotion events this year, rather than giving it all out at once,” Taiwan Tourism Bureau Director-General Chang Shi-chung said, per Taipei Times . “As such, not all international tourists would receive it.“

To address hotel work shortages, the government also announced it would provide monthly cash incentives for each new staff member hired, per Taipei Times .

The announcement did not include how to apply or when the incentive would start.

Do other countries offer cash incentives to visit?

Taiwan is not the first place to offer a cash incentive to come visit. In 2021, Malta announced it would “pay each visitor who books a three-night stay directly with select three- to five-star hotels on a scaled basis,” according to Travel + Leisure .

Malta offered to pay $119 per person for every five-star booking, $89 for 4-star hotels and $60 to each visitor staying at a three-star hotel.

Hong Kong announced earlier this month it would cover airfare for 500,000 tourists.

Here’s how to apply for the free Hong Kong flights

The flight giveaways will take place in three rounds, as follows:

• March 1: Southeast Asians can apply for tickets.
• April 1: Mainland China residents can apply.
• May 1: All international tourists can apply for the tickets.
• July 1: Hong Kong residents can apply for the “make up for lost travel time” flights the government is offering to locals, according to CNN .

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Taiwan plans to pay tourists to visit

Some international visitors are set to receive a payment card after their arrival, article bookmarked.

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Taiwan has unveiled plans to pay tourists to visit.

Taiwan’s premier Chen Chien-jen announced the scheme at a news conference last week, outlining that his government aims to welcome at least six million tourists this year and 10 million annual visitors by 2025.

The new initiative aims to boost post-pandemic foreign tourists after they fell to under 900,000 in 2022, compared to 11.8 million in 2019.

Half a million tourists will be offered 5,000 New Taiwan dollars (£136), while 90,000 tour groups will receive 20,000 New Taiwan dollars (£544).

Tourism Bureau Director-General Chang Shi-chung has explained that tourists will only receive the financial incentive after their arrival in the country, and it’s set to be distributed at promotional opportunities throughout the year.

“The money will be given out through multiple tourism promotion events this year, rather than giving it all out at once,” Mr Chang said, highlighting: “As such, not all international tourists would receive it.”

“International tourists who are given NT$5,000 will not receive it until they arrive,” Mr Chang added.

The money will be loaded up on a payment card and it can help contribute to travel costs.

“It will be stored in an electronic ticketing card, which can be used to pay for food, accommodation and other travel expenses during their time here,” Mr Chang said.

It’s expected that both domestic and international travel agences will be provided with additional incentives to help improve Taiwan tourism.

The sharp decline in visitor numbers is due to Covid restrictions and Taiwan’s border only fully reopening in October 2022.

Chairman of the High-Quality of Travel Association, Ringo Lee, said: “Compared with nearby countries , we are relatively late in reopening the borders for international tourists and have fewer means to conduct international tourism marketing.”

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Taiwan to pay tourists to visit

Looking for a bargain long-haul trip this year? Head to Taiwan, where plans are afoot to actually pay travelers to come over.

Taiwanese officials are looking to offer a financial incentive of 5,000 New Taiwan dollars (about $164) per traveler or NT$20,000 ($654) for group tours in a bid to help boost flagging tourist levels.

Some half a million foreign vacationgoers are set to benefit from the plan, which was designed to help the government reach its goal of 6 million visitors by year's end.

Taiwan only fully reopened its borders last October due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has subsequently failed to attract even a tenth of the number of tourists compared to years prior. As a result, officials are now spending money to make money.

How will it work?

Chang Shi-chung, director-general of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, said the financial package will be sent digitally to a type of tourist card, ensuring all the cash will go directly back into the country's tourism sector.

"International tourists who are given NT$5,000 will not receive it until they arrive," Chang explained. "It will be stored in an electronic ticketing card, which can be used to pay for food, accommodation and other travel expenses during their time here."

Related: Taiwan's Starlux Airlines will start flying to the US in April

There's still no information on when or where these cash amounts will be handed over to travelers, just that it will be distributed via a number of "promotional events" this year.

The very fact we're writing this, and you're reading this, means, at least on the marketing side of things, Taiwan has found a smart way to tell the world that it's open for business. Whether this will translate into the 10 million tourists it hopes to snare by 2025 remains to be seen.

It's not the first Asian destination to throw money at dwindling tourist numbers either. Last month, Hong Kong revealed it was giving away half a million free airline tickets in a bid to win back visitors in a project dubbed "Hello Hong Kong."

How far will the cash amount go?

Pretty far, actually. Living costs in this part of Asia are cheaper than in many of its bigger neighbors; a weeklong escape could cost you less than the same time spent in many European destinations.

In Taiwan's capital Taipei, you can find five-star hotel rooms for about $84 per night in June for two people. Although perhaps a truer reflection of how far your dollars will go is via the "Big Mac index," which has the hallowed meat sandwich priced at $2.50 in Taiwan compared to the average cost of $6.05 in the U.S. — (junk) food for thought.

Why has Taiwan's tourism dried up?

The move comes at a time of increasing uncertainty in a travel market still suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Annual visitor numbers were around 11.8 million before the pandemic but had dwindled to just 9,000 last year.

This could have a dramatic toll on businesses, including hotels, airlines, restaurants and leisure companies throughout the country.

Another possible reason for a dwindling travel market could be escalating tensions between China and Taiwan. The tensions have prompted warnings from the U.S. to China against a possible invasion.

Just this week, 25 Chinese warplanes and three warships were spotted off Taiwan's mainland in the latest provocation to cause geopolitical ripple effects.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't visit Taiwan — far from it. The U.S. Department of State gives Taiwan a " Level 1 " travel advisory, which advises "normal precautions" for travel.

Bottom line

Let's be honest, unless you had already planned to explore this delightful corner of Asia in 2023, a $164 subsidy probably won't be enough to sway you into paying a visit when a flight could cost three or four times that.

However, if you aren't one of the half a million tourists to benefit from the campaign, you can console yourself with incredible food and scenery.

Taiwan announces plan to pay tourists to visit

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Here are the places in Asia you need to visit in 2023, according to The New York Times 

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This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

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Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story said the payment to international tourists has been approved. This has been corrected.

MANILA, Philippines – Revenge travel season doesn’t get any better than this! Taiwan’s government is considering the tourism bureau’s plans to provide monetary allowances to international tourists, as reported by Taipei Times on February 23.

The proposal is an allowance of NT$5,000 per person (approximately P9,000) will be given to 500,000 tourists when they travel to the country, as a way to boost Taiwan’s tourism.

Additionally, those traveling in groups can also receive cash incentives from the government. Groups of 8 to 14 tourists can receive NT$10,000 (around P17,900), and groups with more members can receive NT$20,000 (around P35,800). Up to 90,000 groups can enjoy the allowances.

Tourists chosen to have allowances will receive the amount upon arriving in Taiwan. Tourism Bureau Director-General Chang Shi-chung explained that the stipend will be provided digitally.

“It will be stored in an electronic ticketing card, which can be used to pay for food, accommodation, and other travel expenses during their time here,” Chang said.

Chang noted that the money will not be given all at once to travelers but will be distributed throughout multiple tourism promotion events.  

The bureau’s plans are in line with Taiwan’s goal of boosting tourism, with a target of welcoming 6 million international visitors in 2023. The program has an allocated budget of NT$5.3 billion (P9.5 billion). The bureau is primarily targeting to attract tourists from Japan, South Korea, Europe, and North America. 

Filipinos are also qualified to receive the incentives as the program covers countries under Taiwan’s New Southbound Policy. Other eligible countries include Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and many more. 

On Friday afternoon, March 3, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines told Rappler that as of this writing, the proposal was still under review and has not been finalized yet. The official guidelines will be posted on its official website once confirmed. – with reports from Charlene Enriquez/Rappler.com

Charlene Enriquez is a Rappler intern.

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Taiwan government is giving away NT$5,000 travel vouchers to tourists

Here's everything you need to know

Planning for a trip to Taiwan? Well, you're in luck as the Taiwan government has just announced that they will be dishing out travel vouchers (much like our consumption voucher scheme , but travel edition) with the aim to boost tourism and attract foreign visitors to the country. Here's what you need to know:

What is it?

Starting May 1, 2023 (12pm), the Taiwan Tourism Bureau will be distributing 500,000 vouchers worth NT$5,000 each (approximately HK$1,280) as travel incentives for tourists visiting Taiwan. The vouchers will be given out through a lucky draw system and will run all the way through to June 30, 2025. The first 250,000 vouchers will be given out in 2023, while the remaining 150,000 vouchers will be distributed in 2024, and 100,000 vouchers in 2025.

Who is eligible?

Independent travellers who do not hold a ROC (Republic of China) passport and are staying in Taiwan for three to 90 days are eligible. However, this does not apply to those travelling in tour groups. In other words, Hong Kong residents holding a Hong Kong passport can participate!

How do I enter the lucky draw?

The rules are simple. Those who are eligible can register online one to seven days prior to their arrival date in Taiwan on a designated government website (5000.taiwan.net.tw). Registration begins on April 28 at 12pm – but remember, the lucky draw only starts from May 1, 12pm onwards.

Participants must fill in the necessary travel information and choose the type of vouchers they would like to receive (electronic tickets or accommodation discount vouchers). A QR code for the lucky draw will be sent to you via email upon successful registration.

On the day of arrival in Taiwan, participants can head to the lucky draw event area located at the arrival halls in one of four Taiwan airports: Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei Songshan Airport, Taichung International Airport, and Kaohsiung International Airport.

How do I collect my prize?

Lucky winners may head to the airport's redemption area and provide relevant documents – including their entry stamp, boarding pass, and an electronic copy of their round-trip tickets – to redeem their prize.

How can I use the travel vouchers?

Those who have chosen to claim their prize in the form of electronic tickets may store the money on an EasyCard or iPass and spend them at designated merchants. Each transaction limit is NT$5,000, while the maximum usage per day is NT$3,000.

Meanwhile, winners who have opted for accommodation discounts will receive five vouchers worth NT$1,000 each. The vouchers can only be used once by the winner at hotels with tourist hotel business licenses and commercial hotels or hostels with registered licenses. The vouchers can not be reused or resold.

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17 things you need to know before visiting Taiwan

Oct 29, 2023 • 7 min read

Taiwan is a breeze to visit, but it doesn’t hurt to know a few things before you go © Getty Images / iStockphoto

Taiwan is a breeze to visit, with easy-to-navigate transport systems, handy convenience stores at every turn, and endless restaurants that just hit the spot. 

That said, it doesn’t hurt to prepare a little before you go. Here are some tips from a Taipei resident of seven years.  

1. Book accommodation early

Taiwan’s sweeping range of lodgings means you can live like a multimillionaire or a monk, although it's at the midrange hostels and B&Bs that you’ll get the best deals.

Rooms sell like hot dumplings during summer, Lunar New Year and national holidays. Book at least two months ahead. In Kenting , Jiufen  and Alishan , spots favored by local vacationers and glampers, early reservation is key. Aside from pitching a tent, the cheapest sleeps are at temples with guest rooms.

To hike Taiwan’s highest mountains , you’ll need a permit or two, and the process can take weeks. If you want to stay in the cabins , you’ll need to apply for those as well. The process may not be a walk in the park, but Taiwan’s breathtaking high mountains will reward you generously.  

2. Make restaurant reservations

Eating will be an important part of your trip, and reservations are strongly advised for weekend dining. A few days will do for most restaurants, though Michelin-starred tables, such as RAW and Le Palais , need to be reserved a month or two in advance. Book by phone or on Facebook. A growing number of places will also let you reserve with Google. For walk-in-only hotspots, get there early or get ready to see Taiwan’s famous queue culture in action. 

Dinner service usually begins at 5:30pm and starts winding down in less than three hours. This means your restaurant options grow thin after 8pm — but then street food-filled night markets are always an option.

3. Tap and go with EasyCard or iPass

EasyCard is Taiwan’s contactless smartcard that you can use on the metro, local buses and trains (except high-speed rail), as well as convenience stores and supermarkets. You’ll also need it (and a local phone number) for Youbike, Taiwan’s electronic bike-sharing service. The card itself costs NT$100, and you can top up at any metro station or convenience store. Any unused money is refundable, so don’t lose your card.

iPass is Kaohsiung ’s version of Easycard, which is issued by Taipei. The two are interchangeable. 

4. Download those transportation apps

The government’s bilingual apps are wonderful for checking routes, fares, arrival and departure times, and even whether or not you can bring your cello on board. You can purchase digital train tickets via T Express  (for high-speed rail) and 台鐵e訂通  (for railway), or simply use the apps for information and buy tickets at the station counters.

Taiwan’s metro systems are straightforward, but apps like Taipei's  台北捷運Go  can help you make better decisions about whether to get the day pass or whether you should just bus it. Taiwan’s bus apps give similar information to Google Maps but with more accurate arrival times.

5. Convenience stores are little shops of wonder

Taiwan’s convenience stores let you buy prepaid phone cards, print and photocopy, buy train and concert tickets, send and pick up local packages and use the ATMs.  You can do most of this on an automated kiosk while basking in the aroma of tea-infused eggs, roasted sweet potatoes or whatever decent-tasting rice or pasta dish a fellow customer happens to be reheating for indoor-seated enjoyment. Bear in mind not all kiosks have full English translations, so ask a staff member for help if you need it. Many convenience stores have toilets open to the public, too.

6. Pack enough prescription meds for your trip

If you’re on a specific antidepressant drug, blood pressure medication,or contraceptive pill, bring enough with you to be safe. If you need flu and cold medicine, head over to Watson’s or Cosmed for Tylenol or its local equivalents.  

Sanitary products can be easily purchased from supermarkets and drugstores. Some cafes and restaurants even provide them for free in the women’s toilets. 

7. Be considerate on public transport

The metro  and  buses  have priority seating that's a different color from the other seats. Most Taiwanese who are not elderly, pregnant or physically challenged would never think of sitting there, but in recent years, detractors have been questioning whether age and appearance are accurate reflections of need, arguing that it’s fine for anyone to use the seats until someone needier comes along. Whatever you choose to do, it helps to be aware of these dynamics.

Taiwanese metro commuters take the 'no eating and drinking' rule very seriously. Chewing gum and sips of water are frowned upon. Carriages are also quiet. Your chances of overhearing someone’s life story are disappointingly low. 

8. Tipping is not customary (but it is appreciated)

You are not expected to tip at restaurants, whether or not they levy a 10% to 15% service charge (many do). Taxi drivers don’t expect tips, but you may hear a brighter " xie xie"  (thank you) if you round up to the next dollar. It is courteous to give the porter at better hotels NT$100. If you’re happy with a massage or a tour guide, add 10% to the bill. 

9. Wear whatever you like, but dress respectfully at temples 

While middle-aged Taiwanese tend to dress conservatively, young urbanites in Taipei and Kaohsiung are sartorially quite open-minded. That said, clothes that show more skin, such as crop tops or halternecks, are much less commonly worn than in London or New York, for example, and may get some stares.

It’s a different story when you visit a temple – here, wearing clothes that cover the thighs, shoulders and midriff is regarded as a sign of respect. 

10. Take off your shoes when entering homes 

Taiwanese do not wear outdoor shoes inside their homes. If your host offers you a pair of slippers, accept or propose going with socks. 

It is not customary to remove shoes before entering a temple, especially in urban temples, though the rule may be enforced in a particular hall housing a sacred relic or a fragile heritage building.

11. You can get by without much Chinese

Most Taiwanese in the major cities know at least some English. Naturally, the further you go from the metropolitan areas, the less prevalent the language is. But with the friendliness and hospitality of the Taiwanese, and some help from good old Google Translate, you can get pretty far.

12. Bring your reusable water bottle

Taiwan’s tap water is officially deemed safe to drink; however, it’s hard to know for sure if the pipes in a particular building are up to par. 

Using your own drinking water bottle is by far the cheapest, greenest and safest way to hydrate. There are water fountains in all metro and train stations, public facilities, such as information centers, libraries and museums, and even temples. When checking in at your lodging, ask reception where the water dispenser is.

13. Taiwan is affected by frequent natural disasters

This includes earthquakes, typhoons, floods and landslides. Avoid mountainous areas after quakes and heavy rains. Strong winds often mess up sailing schedules to and from Taiwan’s islands, and cross-island buses may stop running after a landslide. Check with the relevant authorities before heading to the station or pier with your umbrella. 

14. Be wary of where you smoke

Smoking is banned in all indoor public places, such as hotels, restaurants, shopping malls and metro stations, and this is strictly enforced. Smoking at alfresco cafes is common.

15. Taiwan is great for solo women travelers 

Taiwan has a very low crime rate, and many solo women travelers report feeling safer here than in other destinations. Some train and metro stations have nocturnal women-only wait zones that you can take advantage of, especially if traveling alone at night. 

16. Taiwan is a welcoming place for LGBTIQ+ travelers

The first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage, Taiwan is friendly and progressive, especially Taipei, home of the Chinese-speaking world's most vibrant Pride parade. Kaohsiung, which has its own Pride, comes a close second. In terms of nightlife, however, Taipei wins hands down. Useful resources include Utopia , Taiwan Tongzhi (LGBTQ+) Hotline Association  and Taiwan LGBT Pride .

17. Taiwan is fantastic for toilets

Free and usually spotlessly clean facilities are everywhere. While most public toilets are the squat style, there are usually at least one or two stalls with sit-down facilities. They often also have toilet paper. Western-style toilets are standard in hotels and apartments. Many restaurants ask you not to flush used toilet paper but to put it in the wastebasket beside your throne.

This article was first published Oct 22, 2022 and updated Oct 29, 2023.

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Taiwan's trains go through big cities and small towns, providing passengers with a safe and comfortable travel experience. There are several types of passenger trains, such as intercity, Fuxing, Juguang and Ziqiang. Depending on time, budget and destination, visitors are free to make a choice. Advance reservations for weekend and holiday trains are recommended in case tickets are sold out.

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Visitors may purchase tickets by the station windows or vending machines. They may also book tickets online and get the tickets at a train station, post office or convenience store. Payment may be made in cash or with credit card. If getting the tickets at a convenience store, please use the store's multi-media machine. Follow instructions, key in booking info and identity card number or passport number, and have the order sheet printed. Pay by the counter in 10 minutes or the sheet will become invalid (but may be printed again).

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(A) Single-journey tickets: Full, children's, elderly, and disabled fare.

(B) Return tickets: A return ticket means the passenger returns to the departure station when taking the home-coming ride, and that the outbound and inbound routes and seat and train types are the same.

(C) Taiwan Railways Multi-card System: Multi-cards, such as Easy Card and iPass, may be used to take the trains. A 10% discount is given to different train rides such as Juguang, Fuxing and intercity trains, depending on railway sections. For more information about the discount and other special offers, please visit the Taiwan Railways' website .

(D) TR-PASS: There are TR-passes for students and general passengers. The passes may be purchased at each station's ticket windows. Please present a valid student ID of one's own when purchasing a student pass. The TR-PASS holder may take intercity and Juguang trains unlimitedly during the valid dates. No reservations may be made when taking Fuxing and Juguang trains, however.

(E) Day Pass:

• Prices: (1) Pingxi / Shen'ao Line (Badouzi – Jingtong): Full fare is NT$80 and discount fare is NT$40. (2) Neiwan Line (Hsinchu – Neiwan): Full fare is NT$95 and discount fare is NT$50. (3) Jiji Line (Ershui – Checheng): Full fare is NT$90 and discount fare is NT$45. (4) Northeast (Ruifang – Toucheng): Full fare is NT$126 and discount fare is NT$64. (5) Xinzuoying – Fangliao (Xinzuoying – Fangliao): Full fare is NT$184 and discount fare is NT$92.
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Please present your ticket at the gate. Insert the ticket or swipe your Easy Card by the ticket-reading gate if there is one, and make sure to take the ticket back when you exit the station.

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Insert your ticket, go through the gate from its left, and make sure to take the ticket back when you exit the station.

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Palau's president says China is weaponising lucrative tourism over his refusal to break ties with Taiwan, reports AP.

Palau's president says China is weaponising lucrative tourism over his refusal to break ties with Taiwan, reports AP.

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Oklahoma taxpayers owe Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen $2.6 million, legal filing says

The attorney general’s office is reviewing the filing and will respond when it is appropriate, a spokesman said.

A barbeque restaurant chain that once operated locations in six state parks says the state owes it nearly $2.6 million. 

In a motion filed Monday, Swadley’s Foggy Bottom Kitchen is asking an Oklahoma County district court to make the state pay.

The State of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department in April 2022 sued Swadley’s for breach of contract stemming from its remodeling of six restaurants in state parks. 

More: What we know about the deal between Swadley's Bar-B-Q and the Oklahoma Tourism Department

After Gov. Kevin Stitt announced the lawsuit and the resignation of the agency’s director, Jerry Winchester, Swadley’s countersued.

“Gov. Stitt and Lt. Gov. (Matt) Pinnell self-servingly supported Tourism’s lawsuit so that neither candidate would have to address this political hot potato in an election year,” according to the legal brief.

Stitt and Pinnell were both reelected on Nov. 8, 2022. Pinnell provided oversight and instruction to the company, said Bryan King, a Swadley’s attorney.

“If the governor and lieutenant governor had investigated the construction, rehabilitation, and management of the six restaurants at issue, they would have had no choice but to publicly admit that this was a ‘Tourism scandal,’ not a Swadley’s FBK scandal,” the brief said.

“The Attorney General’s Office is reviewing the filing and will respond when it is appropriate,” said Phil Bacharach, a spokesman. 

The office is representing the state in the litigation. 

Swadley’s rehabilitation of the six facilities has given the state a value in excess of $11 million more than what the agency has paid Swadley’s to date, according to the brief.

“In short, Tourism filed this lawsuit to distract public attention away from its own unwise spending decisions that proved politically unpopular and improper under Tourism’s own written management plan,” the brief said.

In March 2020, records show that the company entered a contract with the state to redesign, rebuild and revitalize six restaurants in state parks.

The state paid the company nearly $17 million for restaurant work and to make other improvements.

After questions were raised about the contract, state leaders canceled it due to what they deemed  “suspected fraudulent activity.”

Questions arose about an agreement for the state to pay the company’s operational losses up to $1 million a year and costs associated with equipment and other purchases, among other things.

Swadley’s legal brief alleges a cover up was orchestrated to hide a $4 million deficit in the Tourism Department’s budget.

The motion filed Monday is for partial summary judgment.

“A motion for partial summary judgment is a tool in a civil suit,” King said. “A party can ask the court to rule on things as a matter of law because the facts are undisputed.”

Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: [email protected] . Follow Oklahoma Voice on Facebook and Twitter .

Palau's President Says China Is Weaponizing Lucrative Tourism Over His Refusal to Break Taiwan Ties

Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr. says Beijing weaponizes tourism to the Pacific Island archipelago in an effort to force it to sever ties with Taiwan

Palau's President Says China Is Weaponizing Lucrative Tourism Over His Refusal to Break Taiwan Ties

Eugene Hoshiko

FILE - Palau's President Surangel Whipps Jr. speaks during a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (FCCJ), June 15, 2023, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Beijing weaponized tourism to the Pacific archipelago of Palau over its allegiance to Taiwan and its accusations that China was behind a major cyberattack there, President Surangel Whipps Jr. told The Associated Press.

Palau, along with Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands, is one three Pacific nations to recognize Taiwan as an independent democracy — viewed as a snub by Beijing, which asserts it is part of China. Taipei’s allies in the Pacific have dwindled from six countries in 2019; Nauru abandoned its ties in January .

Whipps told the AP in an interview late Thursday that, in 2020 while he was running for his current post, the Chinese ambassador to a neighboring country pledged to flood his tourism-dependent nation of 20,000 people with a million visitors if he capitulated on the country’s stance.

“That continues to be the overture,” he said by phone Thursday. “They say, why are you torturing yourselves? Just join us and the sky’s the limit.”

Whipps refused. “We don’t need a million tourists,” he added. “It’s not always about how much money we get.”

His stance is vanishingly rare amid Pacific island nations — some struggling to sustain themselves and feeling overlooked by Western powers while their backyards are increasingly the settings for some of the world’s most potent contests for influence . Amid intensifying conflict over ocean territory, resources and political sway, Beijing’s pressure on the three hold-out countries was increasing, analysts said.

“As the number of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the Pacific dwindles, the obstacles to China’s regional diplomacy diminish,” said Mihai Sora, Director of the Pacific Islands Program at the Lowy Institute.

China’s penalties for Palau’s intransigence are not new, but they have escalated in the months leading up to November’s election in which Whipps will seek another term as leader, he said. In May, he blamed China for a major cyberattack on Palau in which 20,000 government documents were stolen. The claim was unproven, Whipps said, but no other motive or actor had emerged.

Earlier that month, Palau tourism industry representatives were denied visas to enter Macau for a lucrative international industry conference. Then reports appeared in China’s state media and on an official WeChat channel in June, warning tourists of an increase in safety issues for Chinese visitors to Palau. The remarks, seen by the AP, urged citizens to be cautious when traveling there.

Whipps rejected the reports of security problems but said the claims had stuck — visitor numbers from China halved in 2024, now down to 30% of its tourists. Once, 70% of Palau’s visitors came from China, but the country tried to diversify its market after Beijing unofficially blocked its citizens from visiting in 2017.

“Palau has found itself in a position where it relies on Chinese tourists for income,” Sora said. “This is a tap China can quite easily turn on and off — and it does.”

Support comes from other quarters, however. Unlike most Pacific nations, Palau, a republic that has been independent since 1994, holds close ties to the United States in a free association agreement. Washington provides aid and defense support to Palau and its citizens can live and work in the U.S.

In February — as renewal of the aid for Palau, Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia stalled in a divided Congress — Whipps warned U.S. lawmakers that Beijing was trying to capitalize on the uncertainty. The funds have since been unlocked, and Whipps on Thursday shrugged off any suggestion of lasting damage, adding that democracy “sometimes takes a little longer than expected.”

But many analysts say Washington was too slow to recognize China’s campaign of influence in the Pacific and took for granted relationships with the leaders of tiny island nations who struggled to address growing economic and climate woes . Meanwhile, Whipps said, Beijing offered incentives and wooed with red carpets and fanfare some leaders who had never met an American president before a Pacific summit at the White House first held in 2022.

Western nations had at times seen Pacific island countries as “dots on a map,” Whipps added. Things were changing, he said — this week, Palau hosted New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, who is also the Foreign Minister, in the highest-profile visit Whipps had received from that country.

“That mutual respect, that caring, it means a lot,” he said, adding that China had elsewhere “done very good at that diplomacy.”

Palau has instead strengthened its ties with Taiwan and Japan, which along with Australia have supplied diversity to a tourism market still rebounding from the coronavirus pandemic. In May, a non-stop airline route opened between Palau and Brisbane.

Whipps also hailed educational opportunities for Palau’s youth in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. “We want our best and brightest to be educated in schools that share our values,” he said.

He also urged more security for its pristine waters — 80% of which are a marine sanctuary, the largest proportion of any country in the world. Four Chinese vessels have made incursions without permission since he became leader, Whipps said.

Recent elections in the Pacific have proved fertile ground for bolstering ties with China. In the first round of national voting Wednesday in Kiribati — which cut ties with Taiwan in 2019 — the Chinese embassy announced on polling day that Kiribati seafood could now enter China’s market. Ahead of an election in the Solomon Islands in April — which also switched allegiance in 2019 , forming a secretive security pact with Beijing — the ruling party warned that cooling relations with China could stifle logging trade with the Solomons, a boon its economy is dependent on.

As November’s Palau election approaches, challenges from long-time pro-Beijing voices in Palau are growing once more, Whipps said. However, he said the campaign would be fought not on foreign influence but on the merits of tax reform, and did not believe a change in leadership would weaken ties to Taiwan.

Politicians in Palau do not run on party platforms. Whipps' main opponent for the presidency was the country’s leader until 2021. Former President Thomas Remengesau Jr. also rebuffed China’s attempts at sway during his time in office.

“We’ve always had the belief that we should be friends to all and enemies to none,” Whipps said. “Our relationship to Taiwan shouldn’t be questioned by anybody.”

AP video producer Olivia Zhang contributed reporting from Beijing.

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Buying or Selling a Home? The Rules Have Changed.

On Aug. 17, real estate agents across the country began following new practices on how commissions are paid. The rules change the way buyers and sellers approach real estate transactions.

By Debra Kamin

Sweeping changes to the real estate industry are now in effect, five months after the National Association of Realtors agreed to a landmark settlement over the way agents are paid commissions.

On Aug. 17, real estate agents across the country began following new practices that require buyers to sign a form before an agent can show them a home, and may radically lower the commission they ask sellers to pay during a home sale.

For years, the standard commission has been 5 to 6 percent, shouldered by home sellers and then split between real estate agents for the seller and the buyer. That fee, while technically negotiable, was at the heart of a lawsuit brought against N.A.R. by a group of home sellers in Missouri , who said the fee was inflated. The home sellers argued that N.A.R., and brokerages who required their agents to be members of N.A.R., had violated antitrust laws by mandating that the seller’s agent make an offer of payment to the buyer’s agent, and setting rules that led to an industrywide standard commission.

Those rules are gone.

Agents are no longer allowed to make offers of commissions on the online databases used to buy and sell homes, called Multiple Listing Services, severing access to the backdoor channel agents have long used to communicate payments. So what do the changes mean for you? Here’s what to expect.

What do I need to know if I’m buying a home?

Home buyers now need to sign a written agreement with an agent before they tour a home. These agreements, meant to stipulate exactly how much a buyer is expected to pay to their agent, are required by the settlement, and are not entirely new — 18 states already required them before N.A.R. lost in court.

But now the forms are everywhere, with little uniformity to the fine print.

“Everyone is calling their forms different things. There’s no industry continuity yet. We’ll get there, but right now it’s going to be rough and tumble as this rolls out,” said Ryan Tucholski, the chief executive of the West Volusia Association of Realtors, a local association in Central Florida.

He said he has been fielding a steady stream of questions from the Realtors in his association, many of whom were in the middle of transactions when the rule changes took effect. “It’s like changing the oil of the car while it’s running,” he said.

Many agents say they plan to ask buyers to now cover a commission of 2.5 or 3 percent to make up for the portion that was previously covered by the seller. Steve Brobeck, a senior fellow at the Consumer Federation of America, an advocacy group, said he is advising buyers to consider offering a flat fee, or paying their agent by the hour, instead.

“The broker’s fee should be clearly stated, always as a dollar figure or as an hourly rate,” he advised in a report. “The dollar value of today’s percentage commissions is often underestimated by buyers. Moreover, buyer agents should not have a financial incentive to be paid more the higher the sale price.”

Those straightforward conversations, he said, will eventually drive commissions down, even if headwinds drag out the process. Laura Ellis, a broker in Chicago who serves as chief strategy officer and president of residential sales at the brokerage Baird and Warner, agrees.

“Agents are going to have more direct conversations with buyers about how they’re going to be compensated. For 100 years or so many agents were able to tell buyers, ‘Don’t worry, I’m free, we’ll go have a lovely sunny afternoon of looking at houses and go from there.’ And that whole conversation is different now,” she said.

What do I need to know if I’m selling a home?

Home sellers are now due for some immediate relief.

Because the settlement eliminates rules that require sellers’ agents to make an offer of commission to buyers’ agents, most sellers’ agents are expected to ask their clients to pay only for one side of the commission pie — a number that averages 2.5 to 3 percent now, and may be pushed downward by competitive pressure as the settlement changes continue to roll out.

Richard Hopen, a former broker who has worked with Compass and Redfin and now runs a business focused on educating home buyers, said that sellers should be informed about the changes, and make sure they understand what they’re being asked to pay.

“Sellers and agents should talk openly about reducing or even eliminating the buyer agent fee and how that could impact the seller,” he said.

How does the settlement apply to people who just sold their home?

The March 15 settlement was a nationwide class-action settlement that applies to nearly every American homeowner who sold a property in the last five years.

N.A.R. settled for $418 million, but the settlement also ensnared more than 20 brokerages that have also all settled for millions. The total damages are now more than $1 billion.

Payouts for individual home sellers are not expected to be significant, but the total amount that an average American is entitled to will depend on how many people submit claims between now and May 9, 2025. Eligibility varies depending on the state you live in, the brokerage your real estate agent worked with, and the date your home listing was entered into a multiple listing service.

You can find out if you’re eligible for a payment here .

For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here .

Debra Kamin reports on real estate, covering what it means to buy, sell and own a home in America today. More about Debra Kamin

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