The latest statistics have shown that the number of outbound trips from January to November 2024 not only increased by 45% compared to the previous year, but was also roughly equivalent to the same period prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019. Based on current trends, travel operators estimate that this year’s outbound tourism market will exceed the pre-pandemic performance.
According to data collected by the Transportation Ministry, the number of outbound tourists from Taiwan in 2024 compared to the number in 2023 increased by about 4.8 million people, reaching a total of more than 15.5 million. Before the pandemic, 15.9 million people traveled out of the country between January and November.
Chairman of the Gooday Tours and Sunday Tours Group Chen I-Fu (陳依福) said he expects even greater numbers of outbound tourists for the year of 2025 and pointed to the overall trend of Taiwan’s overseas routes and airlines continuing expansion. Chen said more than 10 overseas routes will be added, including Guam and North Stradbroke Island, on top of the 160 flights per week out of Taiwan to destinations in North America.
Following the epidemic, Chen has observed new health-centered trends in tourism featuring activities such as hiking the Dolomites of northern Italy and walking the Camino de Santiago in Spain. He said overseas study tours are also becoming increasingly popular, not only with teenagers but also among the elderly, speaking to the public’s interest in becoming both well-traveled and well-read.