According to Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau, overseas holidays are on the rise among Taiwanese. The number of outbound travelers reached 15.65 million in 2017, showing a 7.3 percent increase compared to 14.58 million in 2016. Overseas travel needs are growing, and the statistics released by the Directorate-General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) under the Executive Yuan confirm this phenomenon. The total expenditure on outbound travel from Taiwan exceeded NT$721.6 billion in 2016, with 8.6 percent YoY growth. The data shows that outbound travel expenditures will continue to increase.
According to a survey by Visa, up to 65 percent of Taiwanese spent more than half of their total annual leave period traveling abroad. With 2018 just getting started, now is a good time to plan overseas holiday trips throughout the year. In addition to ensuring convenient, fast and secure payment options, Visa introduces a rich array of annual privileges for cardholders to enjoy exclusive and thoughtful perks from the planning phase to the completion of their journeys.
Lifestyle – quickly tackle essential tasks before your trip
Taiwan’s mobile Internet usage is high and Taiwanese travelers greatly rely on the Internet to garner information, as well as share updates of their lives. Overall, Taiwanese use an average of 3.3 apps when traveling overseas. The 5 most popular types of apps when traveling abroad are map navigation (66.5%), communication (63.2%), instant translation (50.8%), portal sites (48.9%) and social media (47.9%). Thus, roaming networks for the Internet play an influential role while overseas, helping to reduce the chance of getting lost, stay connected with family and friends anytime, or avoid encountering language problems in communication. To enhance tech travel experiences, Visa Infinite cardholders can now enjoy 60 percent off Wi-Fi rental (NT$ 99 per day) when traveling to 7 top destinations, including China, Hong Kong, Macau, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, or the Philippines. Visa Signature and Platinum cardholders are entitled to these offers at a special low rental fee of NT$139 per day. For travelers to other locations, special discounts are also available.
Apart from booking global Wi-Fi services before travel, arranging a pet-friendly hotel/boarding house with professional, considerate staff to care for their “fur babies” is a must for many people. On both weekdays and weekends, Visa Infinite cardholders planning to be away from home can enjoy pet hotel/boarding privileges with the lowest daily price of NT$299 for the first two days, and 20 percent off from the third day onwards (www.freeliving.com.tw/visa). In the meantime, 20 percent discount on pet hotel/boarding services is also available to Visa Signature cardholders.
Accommodation – from elegant luxury to cozy comfort
An enriching, comfortable journey to unwind and recharge comes from “quality hotel living” with VIP privileges. Visa Infinite and Signature cardholders making overseas travel plans can visit the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection site (www.visaluxuryhotelcollection.com) to book over 900 luxury hotels and resorts worldwide, and receive exclusive premium benefits, including room upgrades (when available), complimentary continental breakfast, US$25 credit for food or beverages, and more.
With the recent rise of cultural travel and the sharing economy, “living like a local” has become a popular trend. Visa cardholders who prefer to manage their budget and choose unique accommodations in a flexible way can visit the vacation rental site HomeAway . They can look for soothing home-like environments, possibly even have the opportunity to interact with the host, and experience fascinating local cultures. New members registered with Visa cards can enjoy a discount of up to US$25 at HomeAway when checking out with the code VISANEW25, while established members can receive a 5 percent discount with the code VISA5OFF.
Transportation – convenient services from departure to return
Convenient transport options are vital when embarking on journeys, arriving at destinations, and returning home. Regarding airport limo services, Visa cardholders are entitled to special rates to/from Taoyuan International airport, Kaohsiung International Airport, or Taichung International Airport. A discount fare of NT$380 for one-way service is available for Visa Infinite cardholders (reservation hotline: 04 2206-9342). Signature and Platinum cardholders can receive special one-way discounts via online booking, with low fares of NT$588 and NT$799, respectively.
In terms of flight booking, Visa Credit and Debit cardholders can visit China Eastern Airlines’ Taiwan site, and enter the promotion code (http://vi.sa/cea2018-tw) to receive a maximum of 15 percent off airfare. Eligible cardholders are those who purchase one-way or round-trip tickets for routes operated by China Eastern Airlines or Shanghai Airlines, from Taiwan directly to China, or transferring from Shanghai to the United States, Canada, Oceania, Europe, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Japan, or Korea.
Additionally, Tourism Bureau statistics show the number of outbound travelers to China is constantly expanding, with 3.92 million in 2017, a 6.59 percent increase over the 3.68 million in 2016. With the increasing volume of independent travel to China, Visa unveils up to 20 percent off chartered limo service across 45 cities and airport pickup service across 23 major cities in China (www.520875.com).
Shopping – revel in the fashion and savor the flavor of life at recommended spots
Shopping in Europe is a theme foremost in the minds of Taiwanese tourists, with Paris (40.9 percent), Milan (32.1 percent), and London (18.9 percent) being the top three favorite cities for shopping. Taiwanese can experience a series of offers at nine Chic Outlet Shopping Villages in Europe when using their Visa cards. Participating villages (http://vi.sa/chicoutlet-tw) are located in the following cities: London, Dublin, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels, Milan, Barcelona and Madrid.
Taiwanese visiting Korea, Japan or Guam are entitled to premium benefits at the Lotte Duty Free Outlets. From now until February 14, 2019, 5 to 15 percent discounts for purchases using Visa cards during non-sale periods are available. They may also take advantage of an additional 5 percent discount during sale periods (not applicable to goods with discounts over 30 percent).
### Terms and conditions apply. For more details, please visit • www.visa.com.tw • www.visa.com.tw/pay-with-visa/visa-offers-and-perks/visa-infinite.html • www.visa.com.tw/pay-with-visa/visa-offers-and-perks/visa-signature.html
About Visa Inc. Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network - enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of connected commerce on any device, and a driving force behind the dream of a cashless future for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit usa.visa.com/about-visa, visacorporate.tumblr.com and @VisaNews.
