The Kaohsiung City Tourism Bureau, in partnership with the Kaohsiung Tourism Association, has invited 14 travel agencies from Indonesia for a familiarization tour. With the rising interest in international tourism, Kaohsiung has emerged as Taiwan's most visited city for two consecutive years and is the only city honored by Agoda as a "Recommended Value Accommodation in Asia-Pacific" and by Klook as a "2025 Emerging Travel Destination."

To enhance international tourism, the Kaohsiung City Government's Tourism Bureau collaborates with travel operators from Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, employing themed FAM tours and charter flights to showcase the region's all-encompassing attractions—mountains, seas, rivers, ports, culture, and cuisine. Bureau Director Gao Minlin stated that the bureau has actively expanded into international markets in recent years, forming a Kaohsiung international tourism team to hold promotional events, B2B negotiations, and participate in local travel expos across Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, Japan, and more, receiving high praise from overseas operators.

Statistics project a 20% increase in international visitor accommodations in Kaohsiung in 2024 compared to 2023, notably with over 40% growth from travel markets in the Philippines and South Korea, and over 30% from Japan. The Tourism Bureau is also working on resuming or increasing flight frequencies to key destinations such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Phu Quoc Island, Okinawa, Osaka, Jeju, and Sendai.

Recently, coordination efforts by Gao Minlin with external partners including the Tourism Bureau's overseas offices, StarLux Airlines, IHG Hotels Group, the Kaohsiung Tourism Association, and local travel agencies have led to the invitation of Indonesian, Malaysian, and Philippine operators to experience the diverse tourism resources and cultural attractions of Kaohsiung. A chartered flight organized with Washington Travel in early May successfully attracted 431 travelers for a 5-day, 4-night in-depth tour of southern Taiwan.

This itinerary included visits to popular spots such as the Beautiful Island MRT Station, Love River Bay, Kaohsiung Pop Music Center, Dakeng Bridge, Pier 2 Art District, Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center, and the Lotus Pond's Dragon and Tiger Pagodas, complemented by tasting the street food of Liuhe Night Market.

Mr. Liao Yongdian, Chairman of Washington Travel, emphasized that charter flights not only promote bilateral exchanges but also invigorate international tourism; efforts will continue towards expanding diverse flight routes in order to showcase the beauty of Kaohsiung to more travelers.

Focusing on opportunities in the global Muslim travel market, the Tourism Bureau is also actively assisting operators in acquiring halal certifications. Currently, 24 accommodations, 14 restaurants, 4 friendly locations, and 2 travel agencies in the city have received certifications, creating a Muslim-friendly environment. Moreover, the bureau has also collaborated with the Kaohsiung Tourism Association to invite 14 Indonesian travel agencies for a tour, including visits to Muslim-certified hotels and restaurants.