To expand the Southeast Asian tourism market, the Taichung City Government has been actively promoting international tourism marketing. Yesterday (30th), it specially hosted a familiarization tour for 30 leading travel agencies from Cambodia, inviting them to experience the unique charm of Taichung—a city where urban life and art coexist in harmony. The itinerary included a visit to the cultural and creative hub Shen Ji New Village, where guests witnessed firsthand the revitalization of historic buildings into a vibrant base for young entrepreneurs. The group also toured the internationally renowned National Taichung Theater, gaining deeper insight into how Taichung expresses its urban confidence and aesthetics through culture and design.
Director Chen Mei-hsiu of the Tourism and Travel Bureau noted that Taichung boasts diverse landscapes spanning the mountain, coastal, and urban districts. The city also blends modern architecture, historical textures, and creative energy, making it a highly popular destination among Southeast Asian travelers. She noted that inviting leading agencies from Cambodia’s travel industry for this familiarization tour helps foster the development of new Taiwan-bound travel products while enhancing Taichung’s visibility and competitiveness in the Southeast Asian market. The participating Cambodian travel professionals also remarked that although the visit was brief, Taichung’s attractions are distinctive and its urban atmosphere captivating. They expressed that Taichung will be a top priority for future travel itineraries and shared hopes to collaborate further with other central Taiwan cities and counties to design more diverse and in-depth travel experiences.
Director Chen further remarked that Taichung is known as the “City of Pastries” in Taiwan, and that delicious confections transcend language barriers. With the Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, the markets are filled with a wide variety of traditional and specialty pastries. During the visit, the delegation was also invited to sample Taichung’s signature pastries and experience the city’s authentic local flavors. Liao Yung-ting, Chairman of Hwafu Travel Service, which organized the familiarization tour, noted that Taichung’s tourism sector is undergoing a remarkable transformation. With strong collaboration among the city government, several new attractions have been launched, including the Taichung Aquarium, which began trial operations in August, as well as the Taichung Green Museumbrary and the Taichung International Convention and Exhibition Center, both scheduled to open by the end of the year. These developments underscore the city’s growing diversity in tourism resources and its promising potential for future growth.
To accelerate the development of the medical tourism market, the Tourism and Travel Bureau arranged a visit for the Cambodian travel delegation to Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital. The tour was led by Dr. Hsu Chia-chun, Director of the hospital’s International Medical Center, accompanied by colleagues from the Preventive Medicine Center. Both sides expressed optimism about future collaboration, which is expected to inject new momentum into Taichung’s international tourism sector!
The Tourism and Travel Bureau noted that Taichung City will continue to strengthen ties with the Southeast Asian market through a dual-track strategy of familiarization tours and overseas promotion. By integrating the efforts of airlines, the tourism industry, and local resources, the city aims to establish Taichung as a key gateway and premier destination for Southeast Asian travelers visiting Taiwan, thereby enhancing central Taiwan’s visibility in the international tourism arena.