More than 4 Million Visitors to Taiwan in 2009
Through 2008 and 2009 the Taiwan Tourism Bureau staged a popular “Million Visitors” promotion, presenting special gifts to the 1, 2, 3 and 4 millionth visitor in both years. On December 5, the number of visitors for 2009 hit the magic four million mark. This number set a new record for number of travelers to Taiwan for a single year. Lucky visitor number 4 million was Goto Suzuyo, a retired 62-year-old woman from Japan, who traveled to Taiwan on Eva Air flight BR2131 from Kansai Airport in Japan’s Osaka Prefecture. She was traveling with two friends on 6-day, 5-night health-tour excursion to Sun Moon Lake, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Taitung, Hualien, and Taipei. Greeted upon arrival by representatives from the Tourism Bureau, she was presented with a certificate of commemoration by Deputy Director General David W.J. Hsieh, attractive Taiwan-brand gifts, and NT$400,000 in credit-card use. This and other campaigns to promote Taiwan tourism have been a great success, and use of this concept will continue. A new campaign for the year 2010 and 2011 has already been started with a series of activities and promotions that amply demonstrate how Taiwan is a place that deeply touches all those who get to know it.