After the lifting of border restrictions, the first chartered flight from Manila to Taichung arrived this morning today (on the 6th) with 180 Filipino passengers on board, flying with Royal Air Philippines. To welcome these passengers from this chartered flight, not only did Director of Taichung City's Tourism Bureau Chen Mei-shiu go to the airport to greet them in person, but also a guest-welcoming event was organized with well-known gift sets and travel pamphlets featuring Taichung City. In addition, students from the Tourism Department of Taichung Municipal Shin Min High School also prepared a dance to show the hospitality and warmth of Taichung and to give the passengers a wonderful start to their trip.

Director Chen warmly welcomed the Filipino passengers who arrived in Taichung and expressed her gratitude to Fortune Travel for recommending Taichung as a travel destination. She also thanked Taichung International Airport and Taichung Municipal Shin Min High School for their support, which contributed to the success of the welcoming event. In addition, the travel agency has arranged three chartered flights, which will bring over 500 passengers in total to the city, and the next two flights will arrive on April 8 and April 10, respectively. Today’s flight was not only the first chartered flight to arrive in Taichung International Airport since the pandemic, but also the first direct flight from Manila to Taichung in recent years. This marks a significant milestone for Taichung and will help to attract more overseas visitors to the city.

Director Chen pointed out that Taichung had unique advantages, not only in its abundant tourism resources but also in its pleasant climate. She also said that this group of tourists specifically requested to visit the famous Fengjia and Yizhong night markets of Taichung and would stay in the City’s downtown hotels. She said that they would be impressed by the metropolitan charm of Taichung because, according to her understanding, Filipino tourists enjoy taking photos and checking in at popular spots. Examples of Taichung’s painted animation lane, Historic Structure Martial Arts Compound and National Taichung Theater are all popular tourist attractions among Filipino visitors. The Tourism Bureau has specially prepared promotional materials of sightseeing buses and Taiwan Tourist Shuttle for these passengers, hoping that they will feel the warm welcome of Taichung and have a homely travel experience in the city.

The Bureau stated that tourists from New Southbound countries already become the mainstream of Taiwan's inbound tourism market. Taichung City Government therefore actively negotiate with Taichung International Airport, airlines, and travel agencies to discuss the feasibility of resuming original flight routes and chartering new routes, hoping to revive the transportation capacity of Taichung International Airport and seize the New Southbound tourism market. This chartered flight from Manila is a good beginning and the Bureau expressed the wish that, with everyone’s efforts, there will be more flight routes that attract more visitors to the city, create more business opportunity for inbound tourism, and guide more international tourists to experience the beauty of Taichung.