Cheese Report January 2024

Tourism Industry Update

• Taiwan Outbound Departure Statistics for November 2023
• Taiwan Inbound Visitor Statistics for November 2023
• DGBAS Latest Economic Indicators for November 2023(Partial data based on October figures)
• Seven Major Travel Trends in 2024: AI-Planned Itineraries Become More Popular
• Travel Industry Estimates a 10% Increase in Tour Fees to Japan as the Demands are Dramatically Increasing and Japanese Yen Hits the Lowest Point Against Taiwan Dollar
• Anticipated Lifting of the Ban on Tours to China in March Next Year; Shortage of Workers in Japan and Korea May Lead to an Increase in Tour Fees
• Indonesia Plans to Add 20 More Visa-Free Countries to Boost Tourism, With Taiwan Included
• In 2024, the Aviation Industry’s Revenue and Passenger Numbers are Expected to Reach a New High; Airlines are Competing to Acquire Aircrafts and Routes

Media News

• 80% of Taiwanese Youth Love YouTube! 68% Believe That High Profile Creators on the Platform are Credible
• Meta Tests New AI Features Across Apps. The Platform is Set to Undergo the Biggest Changes in 3 Years
• Gen Z Listened to Podcast Episodes More Than 3 Billion Times in 2023 and Trust Adverts on Podcasts more than other Social Media Platforms. How to Seize on the Podcast Advertisement Opportunity?
• 80% of People Abandon Online Travel Bookings as Planning Itineraries Takes Too Much Time. How to Use AI to Plan Your Next Holiday?

Case Studies

• Campaign Promotion for China Airlines Launching New Taipei – Kumamoto Route Tourism Industry Update

---

ー Tourism Industry Update ー

---

Taiwan Outbound Departure Statistics for November 2023

1. In November 2023, the total number of outbound travelers reached 1,096,976, showing a growth rate of 296.64% compared to the same period in the year 2022, which had 276,570 travelers.
2. For November 2023, the top destination for outbound Taiwanese travelers was Japan, followed by China, Vietnam, Korea, and Hong Kong. Compared to the same period in 2022, China experienced the highest growth rate at 1201.44%.

---

Taiwan Inbound Visitor Statistics for November 2023

In November of the year 2023, the number of incoming tourists to Taiwan reached 689,105, exhibiting a growth of 298.01% compared to the same period in the previous year (2022).

^{Source: Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communications
Full Article：https://bit.ly/40MGnxT
https://stat.taiwan.net.tw
https://bit.ly/3nSfICk}

---

DGBAS Latest Economic Indicators for November 2023 (Partial data based on October figures)

1. In November of the year 2023, the employment rate in Taiwan was 11.577 million people, with an unemployment rate of 400,000 people, resulting in an unemployment rate of 3.34%. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.37%, and the labor force participation rate stood at 59.26%.
2. In October, the average regular monthly salary for all employed individuals (including both local and foreign full-time employees, as well as some part-time employees) was NT$45,564, showing a monthly increase of 0.13% and an annual increase of 2.31%. Non-regular income, including bonuses and overtime pay, amounted to NT$5,579, bringing the total average salary to NT$51,143, reflecting a yearly increase of 1.35%. Among part-time employees, the average regular hourly wage was NT$200, with a monthly increase of 0.50% and an annual increase of 1.01%.

^{Source: DGBAS Latest Indicators
Full Artical}

---

Seven Major Travel Trends in 2024: AI-Planned Itineraries Become More Popular

As we are approaching 2024, travel is no longer just an escape from life after the pandemic. Booking.com, a global digital travel platform, conducted a survey of 27,000 travellers from 33 countries, revealing “The Seven Major Travel Trends of 2024." The results show that 76% of Taiwanese travellers feel more vibrant during holidays than ever before, aiming to embody their holiday selves in daily life. 79% believe that they can be the best version of themselves while on holiday, surpassing the global average of 68%.

^{Source: TSSDNEWS
Full Artical}

---

Travel Industry Estimates a 10% Increase in Tour Fees to Japan as the Demands are Dramatically Increasing and Japanese Yen Hits the Lowest Point Against Taiwan Dollar

Planning to travel to Japan next year for the Lunar New Year? Be aware that the tour expenses for Japan are not budget-friendly! The demand for travelling during the Lunar New Year is very high. Coupled with the World Expo in 2025, it is estimated that next year’s tour fees for Japan will only increase, likely going up by almost 10%. The environment is advantageous for Taiwanese travellers because of the strong TWD against the Yen.

^{Source: EBC News
Full Article}

---

Anticipated Lifting of the Ban on Tours to China in March Next Year; Shortage of Workers in Japan and Korea May Lead to an Increase in Tour Fees

The ban on group tours to China is set to be lifted soon, with expectations for outbound tours departing in March of the upcoming year (2024). With the increasing interest from the public, it prompts travel agencies to proactively release itineraries to attract customers. However, full restoration of flight routes and limited seat availability remain ongoing challenges. As a result, tour fees are anticipated to increase by 10% to 20% compared to previous rates. Additionally, Japan and Korea continue to be the favoured destinations among Taiwanese travellers. Nevertheless, Japan is grappling with a shortage of hotel staff, contributing to a potential rise in tour expenses.

_{Source: pts}
^{Full Article}

---

Indonesia Plans to Add 20 More Visa-Free Countries to Boost Tourism, With Taiwan Included

According to a report, Indonesia’s Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno announced that the country is considering granting visa-free entry to citizens of 20 countries, in order to deliver a jolt to the country’s economy and tourist sector. Apart from Taiwan, United States, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Netherlands, China, Germany, Britain, South Korea, France, Japan, Russia, India, New Zealand, Spain, Italy and United Arab Emirates are all included.

^{Source: Liberty Times
Full Article}

---

In 2024, the Aviation Industry’s Revenue and Passenger Numbers are Expected to Reach a New High; Airlines are Competing to Acquire Aircrafts and Routes

After enduring a four-year hiatus due to the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the aviation industry is poised for a historic resurgence. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has recently projected that in 2024, passenger numbers and revenue will reach unprecedented heights. The industry’s net profit is anticipated to soar to $25.7 billion, with the prospect of achieving record-breaking total revenues of $964 billion, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 7.6%. Approximately 4.7 billion individuals are expected to engage in air travel in 2024, surpassing the pre-pandemic level of 4.5 billion passengers recorded in 2019. This optimistic outlook signals a robust recovery for the aviation sector after the challenges posed by the COVID-19 outbreak.

_{Source: CredereMedia}
^{Full Article}

ー Media Newsー

---

80% of Taiwanese Youth Love YouTube! 68% Believe That High Profile Creators on the Platform are Credible

According to King Car Cultural and Educational Foundation’s survey, the most prevalent information platform among adolescents is YouTube, with a significant 80.2% engagement. Following closely are television (65.7%), TikTok (50.7%), Instagram (48.8%), and Facebook (47.9%). Regarding the perceived authenticity and reliability of information sources, television takes the lead at 45.3%. Meanwhile, 42.7% believe there is no absolutely trustworthy source, and 39.8% consider information from family and friends as reliable sources.

^{Source: INSIDE
Full Article}

---

Meta Tests New AI Features Across Apps. The Platform is Set to Undergo the Biggest Changes in 3 Years

Meta Platforms Inc. is betting artificial intelligence will convince people to spend more time on its social media apps next year and is using the technology to make the biggest changes across its platforms since introducing short-form video Reels in 2020. The company is currently testing more than 20 different generative AI features from search to ads, business messaging and more, across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp. Eventually it will apply those tools globally.

^{Source: Anue
Full Article}

---

Gen Z Listened to Podcast Episodes More Than 3 Billion Times in 2023 and Trust Adverts on Podcasts more than other Social Media Platforms. How to Seize on the Podcast Advertisement Opportunity?

Donning headphones to listen to music or podcasts has become a staple in modern life when commuting, particularly among the younger generation. “Podcasts have permeated almost every aspect of life for the younger generations, from work and commuting to household chores, even during showers and before bedtime.” says Huang Jianhan, CEO of SoundOn Global. According to Spotify, Gen Z listened to podcast episodes more than three billion times and songs more than 560 billion times — a 76% increase from the previous year. According to z.com Engagement’s survey data , the podcast market in Taiwan has great potential, with loyal and weekly engaged listeners who have positive attitudes toward advertising.

With an increasing number of people tuning in to podcasts, their value is also on the rise. How can brands effectively leverage this medium to capture the ears of consumers?

^{Source: FutureBusiness
Full Article}

---

80% of People Abandon Online Travel Bookings as Planning Itineraries Takes Too Much Time. How to Use AI to Plan Your Next Holiday?

---

ー Case Studies ー

---

Campaign Promotion for China Airlines Launching New Taipei – Kumamoto Route

---