Cheese Report Mar 2026

Outbound Departures of Nationals of the Republic of China by Destination, January & January- January, 2026

1. ECCPC Invites Hong Kong Tourism Industry Representatives to Taiwan to Explore Offshore Island Charms and Create New Business Opportunities

In line with government policies to attract more tourists from Hong Kong, the Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Cultural Co-operation Council (ECCPC) commissioned the Travel Agent Association of the R.O.C. (Taiwan) to invite 18 representatives from the Hong Kong tourism industry for a visit from March 5 to 8, 2026. On March 6, the “Taiwan-Hong Kong Economic and Trade Forum” was held in Matsu. The event brought together officials from the Tourism Administration (MOTC), members of the ECCPC Economic Cooperation Committee, and representatives from local Taiwanese travel associations and businesses. Participants engaged in productive discussions on various topics, including the development of the Taiwan-Hong Kong tourism market, the promotion of offshore island tourism, and the design of products featuring local specialties.

2.STARLUX Airlines to Launch “Taipei/Taichung –Busan” Routes in June

Starting June 1, 2026, STARLUX Airlines will inaugurate its new “Taipei/Taichung –Busan” routes. This marks not only the airline’s first-ever service to South Korea but also distinguishes STARLUX as the only carrier in Taiwan providing direct flights from Taichung to Busan, offering unprecedented convenience for travelers in Central Taiwan.

3. War Jeopardizes $11.7 Trillion Global Tourism Market; Aviation and Hotel Stocks Brace for Impact

Escalating tensions in the Middle East, fueled by U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran, have plunged the global tourism industry into chaos. This military conflict has not only disrupted travel plans for millions but also poses a direct threat to the $11.7 trillion global tourism economy. For instance, the airfare for a traveler originally scheduled to transit through Dubai surged to $1,600, more than doubling the initial cost due to the outbreak of hostilities.

4. Japan Travel Subsidy Alert! Save NT$2,400 on Your Next Trip; Experts Warn to Book Early as Funds May Run Out

Kagoshima Prefecture in Japan’s Kyushu region, famous for its iconic active volcano, Sakurajima, has struggled to see international tourist numbers return to pre-pandemic levels. To revitalize the local tourism industry, the Kagoshima Prefectural Government has announced a massive travel subsidy program totaling ¥278 million (approx. NT$56.54 million). Starting this June, the program is expected to offer full subsidies for one-way Shinkansen tickets from Fukuoka (Hakata) to Kagoshima-chuo for travelers from Taiwan, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong. This allows tourists to save ¥11,500 (approx. NT$2,400). Travel experts urge tourists to plan early, as the promotion could be suspended at any time once the budget is exhausted.

5. Taiwanese Travelers Plan 2.5 Months Ahead: Top 3 Emerging Travel Trends Revealed

According to the latest data from Trip.com, three major travel trends have emerged, including the fact that Taiwanese travelers now plan their trips an average of 2.5 months in advance, and that 3-to-4-day getaways have become the preferred choice for long weekends. Statistics show a powerful surge in outbound flight bookings for the 2026 Lunar New Year. Among the top 10 fastest-growing outbound destinations, booking volumes for Asian cities have skyrocketed.

Leading the list is Jeju, South Korea, with growth exceeding sixfold (6x). Sapporo and Fukuoka in Japan also saw impressive increases of approximately twofold (2x) each, while major hubs like Tokyo and Okinawa continued to show steady growth as usual. These trends indicate a vibrant outbound travel market in early spring, with short-haul destinations in Asia remaining the top choice for Taiwanese travelers.

● DMA Releases 2026 Taiwan Digital Marketing Trend Report: The Year of AI Implementation Arrives –Trust and Emotional Value Become Keys to Brand Breakthrough

The Digital Marketing Association (DMA) Taiwan recently released its “2026 Taiwan Digital Marketing Trend Report,” identifying 2026 as the “Year of Implementation” for the digital marketing industry. As AI technology shifts from experimental trials to full-scale integration, the core of market competition has moved from mere tool proficiency to “Service Trust” and “Data Governance.” Facing the dual challenges of an economic downturn and the outflow of domestic consumption, the report emphasizes that a brand’s growth will hinge on its ability to cultivate niche interest circles and effectively capture consumer emotional value.

Source: Digital Marketing Association (DMA) Taiwan
https://www.dma.org.tw/newsPost/2823

● Unlocking Billions in New Traffic! Google Unveils 2026 Marketing Blueprint: How AI is Restructuring Advertising and Conversion Flows

As AI technology evolves at a breakneck pace, Google recently presented a new vision for the digital advertising and commerce landscape in 2026. Vidhya Srinivasan, Vice President of Google Ads and Commerce, noted that the core objective moving forward is to reimagine the commercial experience, making it more “fluid, assistive, and highly personal.”

https://techorange.com/2026/02/13/google-digital-advertising-commerce-2026/

● Mapping Threads in Taiwan: When is the Peak Posting Time? Are Weekends an Engagement Trough? 2 Charts to Master Future Marketing Trends

QSearch, a long-term tracker of Taiwan’s social media landscape, utilized its Trend+ social data search feature to comprehensively monitor 36 million posts from Taiwanese Threads accounts throughout 2025. By applying standardized weight calculations to post volume, likes, and comments, and performing cross-interval data analysis, the study identifies the peak and trough periods of user interaction.

QSearch discovered that interaction peaks for Threads users in Taiwan are concentrated between 8:00 PM and 10:00 PM, showing a significant divergence from the global mainstream peak (typically Thursday at 9:00 AM).

Source: Business Next
https://www.bnext.com.tw/article/90152/threads-posting-timing-2026

● Firstory Releases 2026 Podcast Trend Report: The Era of “Liquid Content” Arrives as AI and Video Reshape the Audio Ecosystem

Firstory, a leading global audio content platform, recently released its “2026 Annual Podcast Trend Report.” The report indicates that the podcast industry has moved beyond its early explosive growth phase and officially entered a structurally mature era of “Liquid Content.” Podcasts are no longer confined to a single audio format; instead, they center on the listener, flowing as freely as water across video platforms, connected TVs (CTV), and social media.

According to Firstory’s internal data, the demographic structure of Taiwan’s podcast audience continues to mature. The core user base is concentrated among women aged 28–44, with the 35–44 female segment showing the most prominent growth—an increase of 8.9% compared to six months ago.

※Source: Yahoo News
https://tw.news.yahoo.com/share/26bfe15d-96f4-4cb4-a800-41205b74c7aa

● Influencer Marketing Enters the Performance Era! APAC Shifts Focus as Taiwan Becomes a Key Battlefield for Multi-Platform Short-form Video and Threads

AnyMind Group recently released the “State of Influencer Marketing Report 2026, APAC,” noting a significant turning point in the Asia-Pacific market throughout 2025. Influencer marketing has officially transitioned from a traditional “upper-funnel tool” focused on brand exposure to a critical performance engine capable of driving trust, purchase intent, and measurable commerce results.

Observations from Taiwan’s data show that brand collaborations remain centered on Instagram, supplemented by Facebook and YouTube to form a multi-platform strategy. Brands are leveraging cross-platform amplification –utilizing IG Reels, FB short-form videos, and YouTube Shorts –to boost content reach and conversion efficiency. Meanwhile, Threads has risen rapidly in Taiwan, reaching 6.65 million users. It is gradually becoming a vital new arena for beauty and lifestyle brands to test trending topics and build daily engagement and social share of voice.

※Source: AnyMind Group
https://anymindgroup.com/tw/news/press-release/im-report-2026