AGP Executive Report

Typhoon Disruption: Champi left one person dead and about 350 injured in Taiwan, with hundreds of flights cancelled and rail and ferry services disrupted. Two Malaysians were among those hurt. Travelers should check directly with airlines and ferry operators, monitor local alerts and avoid coastal and mountainous areas while hazardous weather persists. Travel Payments: Singapore visitors can now use DBS PayLah! QR payments at more than 250,000 merchants across Taiwan. Getting Around: Taipei ranked first for public transport in Time Out’s 2026 global survey, based on residents’ ratings of local networks.

Typhoon Disruptions: Champi battered Taiwan on Friday, cancelling hundreds of flights and disrupting trains, ferries and road travel during the holiday weekend. One person died and about 200 were injured. Authorities urged travelers to check service updates and stay away from coasts and mountains. Safety Warning: Tourists who entered areas closed for the storm—including a restricted coastal zone and a mountain pass—could face fines of up to NT$250,000. Entry Rules: Taiwan extended visa-free entry for visitors from Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines through July 31, 2027. The Kuan-Hong travel facilitation scheme for visitors from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos was also extended through the end of 2027.

Typhoon Champi: Taiwan has closed schools and offices across 20 cities and counties as the storm brings dangerous winds and heavy rain; more than 900 flights have been canceled. Alishan’s recreation area and forest railway are closing, and authorities urge travelers to avoid beaches and mountains. Check airline updates before leaving. Taipei Stay: InterContinental Taipei has opened inside the Taipei Dome complex, adding a major hotel option in the capital. Easier Payments: Singapore travelers can now use DBS PayLah! QR payments at more than 250,000 merchants across Taiwan. New Route: STARLUX Airlines is increasing Taipei–Prague service to four weekly flights.

Typhoon Disruptions: Champi’s approach brought land and sea warnings, canceled more than 100 Taiwan flights and prompted officials to urge people to avoid beaches and mountains over the long weekend. Alishan Forest Recreation Area and most of its railway will close Friday and Saturday. Water Safety: A free diver died after being swept away by a strong current off Xiaoliuqiu while typhoon warnings were in effect; authorities urged visitors to heed warnings and avoid dangerous waters. Easier Payments: Singapore visitors can now use DBS PayLah! to scan QR codes at more than 250,000 merchants in Taiwan, including eateries and shops. Heritage at Risk: Greenpeace says heavy rain and future warming could threaten historic sites along Tainan’s Anping Canal, putting about NT$2.06 billion in tourism spending at risk. Roaming Options: O2 Czechia has added Taiwan to its Data Pass roaming packages, expanding coverage for its customers to 101 countries.

Typhoon Disruptions: Taiwan issued a land warning as Typhoon Champi approached its northeast coast, cancelling more than 100 flights. Heavy rain and dangerous coastal conditions are expected; travelers should check flight schedules and avoid mountain and coastal areas. Easier Payments: Singapore’s DBS PayLah! users can now scan to pay at more than 250,000 participating merchants in Taiwan, including shops and eateries popular with visitors. New Taipei Stay: InterContinental Taipei has opened inside the Taipei Dome complex, adding a major hotel option to the city’s accommodation scene. Food-Focused Getaways: A new Korea tour package is taking Taiwanese visitors to tteokbokki and gimbap festivals in Daegu and Gimcheon, as organizers promote regional food experiences beyond Seoul.

Typhoon Update: Super Typhoon Champi is forecast to spare Taiwan a direct hit, but heavy rain is expected in northern and eastern areas through Saturday. Strong winds and rough seas could disrupt travel, so check flight and ferry updates. New Stay: InterContinental Taipei has opened in the Taipei Dome complex, bringing 347 rooms, seven dining concepts and an indoor pool to Xinyi District. Easier Payments: Singapore visitors can now use DBS PayLah! at more than 250,000 Taiwan merchants, including night markets and local eateries; coverage is set to expand in 2027. Air Links: Starlux has added a fourth weekly Taipei–Prague flight. Getting Around: Taipei ranked first in Time Out’s global public-transport survey, while proposed cabin-fee increases at Taroko and Yushan parks could raise the cost of future hikes.

Easy Payments: Singapore’s DBS PayLah! users can now scan Taiwan QR codes at more than 250,000 merchants, including night markets, eateries and shops. Food Trips: Korea is courting Taiwanese visitors with regional street-food packages; 145 travelers are set to visit the Daegu Tteokbokki Festival and Gimcheon Kimbap Festival on Oct. 23–24. Getting Around: Taipei ranked first in Time Out’s global public-transport survey, ahead of Singapore, Hong Kong and Edinburgh. Travel Safety: Taiwan’s foreign ministry is advising travelers in France to avoid protest areas and leave if they encounter demonstrations; the alert remains at its lowest level. More Flights: Starlux is adding capacity on routes serving technology hubs and studying new destinations, while its Taipei–Prague service has expanded to four flights a week.

Travel Alerts: Taiwan urged travelers in France to avoid protest sites after violent cost-of-living demonstrations. Typhoon Champi could disrupt travel to Taiwan from Oct. 21–24; check forecasts and flight updates. Air Links: Starlux is adding flights on Taipei–Prague, Phoenix and Ontario routes as demand from Taiwan’s tech sector grows, and is weighing more North American destinations. North Coast Tourism: New Taipei mayoral candidate Su Chiao-hui proposed better transport and a tourism push linking Jinshan and Wanli’s hot springs, fishing heritage and cultural sites. Taipei Events: A free “Tokyo Revengers” pop-up is scheduled for Xinyi Songyan from Nov. 27 to Dec. 6. Travel Safety: Taiwan’s foreign ministry is assisting families after a Taiwanese woman was found dead at a hotel near Mount Fuji; Japanese police are investigating. Southern Taiwan: The Tourism Administration is partnering with airlines and travel platforms on rewards to draw international visitors to the south.

Japan Tour Incident: A Taiwanese woman on a group tour was found dead at a hotel near Mount Fuji; MOFA says it is in contact with the families and will provide assistance as police investigate. Air Connections: Singapore Airlines’ Oct. 23–30 sale lists round-trip fares to Taipei from S$388 for travel between January and September 2027. China Airlines is also offering discounts on selected premium-economy and business fares from Germany, while Starlux is adding a fourth weekly Taipei–Prague flight. China Travel: Trips by Taiwan residents to China rose nearly 20% in the first eight months, prompting calls to lift the group-tour ban. Industry sources say some agencies may be marketing tours under other labels, while travelers could have limited recourse if disputes arise. Travel Planning: Taiwan agencies are monitoring protests in France, Italy and Albania and may reroute tours around affected areas. Proposed fee changes for cabins at Taroko and Yushan could also affect hikers.

Europe Travel: Taiwanese agencies are monitoring protests in France, Italy and Albania; tours remain on schedule for now, but operators may reroute groups to avoid affected areas. Flight Deals: China Airlines is offering up to 15% off selected Premium Economy fares and 10% off Business Class tickets from Germany, for bookings through Oct. 31 and travel through Dec. 15. Air Links: Starlux is adding a fourth weekly Taipei–Prague flight, expanding options for Taiwan–Europe trips. Southern Taiwan: A new Tourism Administration campaign with airline and travel-platform partners is offering rewards to encourage international visitors to explore the south. Outdoor Stays: Officials have proposed fees for cabins in Taroko and Yushan national parks, including higher rates at Paiyun Lodge. Outbound Travel: Taiwanese trips to China rose nearly 20% year on year to 2.49 million in the first eight months, as industry groups call for the government to lift its ban on organized tours.

Food Trips: Agoda spotlights Chiayi’s turkey rice and Wenhua Road Night Market as reasons for a food-focused visit, with the city’s year-end band festival adding another draw. Air Links: Starlux has increased Taipei–Prague service to four flights a week; combined with China Airlines’ three, that gives travelers a daily nonstop option. Holiday Travel: Heavy highway traffic is forecast over Taiwan’s upcoming three-day holiday, especially southbound on the first day. Cruise Tourism: Transport officials are exploring Keelung and Kaohsiung as northern and southern cruise hubs, with routes to Japan and South Korea from Keelung and the Philippines and Vietnam from Kaohsiung. Mountain Stays: Proposed fees would apply at Taroko’s new Chilai Mountain Cabin and raise rates at Yushan’s Paiyun Lodge; both plans are open for public consultation.

Air Links: Starlux has raised Taipei–Prague service to four nonstop flights a week. Combined with China Airlines’ three weekly flights, the route now offers daily nonstop connections; Taiwanese arrivals in Czechia rose 5.9% in the first eight months of 2026. Outbound Travel: Taiwan residents made 2.49 million trips to mainland China in the first eight months, up 19.63% year on year. The government’s orange travel warning remains in place, and officials urge travelers to check safety updates. Mountain Stays: Proposed fees for Qilai Mountain Cabin are NT$800 per person on weekdays and NT$1,200 on holidays. Paiyun Lodge rates could rise to NT$1,000 and NT$1,500, respectively; both proposals are open for public consultation. Visitor Conduct: Two US tourists are under investigation after allegedly touching a protected green sea turtle at Xiaoliuqiu. Taiwan’s Tourism Administration has also rolled out campaigns promoting Taiwan and southern Taiwan to international visitors.

Outbound Travel: Taiwan residents made 2.49 million trips to mainland China in the first eight months of 2026, up 19.6% year on year, despite an orange travel warning advising against nonessential trips. Mountain Stays: Proposed rates for Qilai Mountain Cabin are NT$800 on weekdays and NT$1,200 on holidays; Paiyun Lodge fees could rise to NT$1,000 and NT$1,500, pending public consultation. Visitor Safety: Two U.S. visitors are under investigation after allegedly touching a protected green sea turtle at Xiaoliuqiu’s Vase Rock beach. Tourism Push: Taichung’s shopping festival runs Oct. 24 to Dec. 25, pairing retail promotions with tourism; Taiwan is also offering rewards to attract international visitors to southern Taiwan. Air Travel: Taoyuan Airport’s Terminal 3 project aims to expand capacity and improve passenger flow as the airport builds on 47.8 million passengers in 2025. Starlux Airlines was named the world’s cleanest airline in Skytrax’s 2026 awards.

Mountain Hiking: Taiwan is proposing fees for the new Qilai Mountain Cabin—NT$800 on weekdays and NT$1,200 on holidays—and higher rates at Yushan’s Paiyun Lodge, up to NT$1,500 on holidays. The changes are open for public comment for 60 days. Outbound Travel: Trips by Taiwan residents to China rose 19.6% to 2.49 million in the first eight months, despite an orange travel warning; officials urge travelers to assess risks and check safety updates. Wildlife Etiquette: Two U.S. visitors are under investigation for allegedly touching a protected green sea turtle on Xiaoliuqiu. Authorities remind visitors to keep clear of marine wildlife. Taichung Events: The city’s shopping festival runs Oct. 24 to Dec. 25, combining retail promotions with tourism and aiming to top NT$200 billion in registered spending across eight editions. Travel Promotion: Taiwan’s tourism administration is promoting southern Taiwan to international visitors through airline and travel-platform partnerships and rewards.

Culture and Events: Taipei will host the world-tour debut of Spirited Away: Live on Stage from Dec. 17 to Jan. 31, 2027, adding a major attraction to the winter calendar. Tourism Campaigns: Taiwan is inviting U.S. visitors to explore through its #100WaysToWonder campaign, while a separate promotion with airlines and travel platforms offers multi-million rewards for trips to southern Taiwan. Travel Trade: The Taiwan International Travel Fair opens in early November, with advance tickets on sale. Hotels: The 347-room InterContinental Taipei has opened with seven restaurants, expanding the capital’s luxury accommodation options. Entry Access: Taiwan has resumed visa applications for Moroccan nationals, restoring another route for visitors. Getting Around: Taipei ranked among the world’s top three cities for public transport in a survey of local residents, a plus for travelers exploring without a car.

Tourism Ties: Palau and Taiwan discussed attracting more Taiwanese visitors, with talks covering tourism and people-to-people links ahead of Palau’s president’s planned Taiwan visit. Travel Advisory: Taiwan renewed its warning about travel to China after a Taiwanese nurse reported questioning by state security in Tibet; officials urge travelers to be alert to checks. Visitor Access: Taiwan has resumed visa processing for Moroccan nationals, reopening applications after a months-long suspension. Destination Marketing: Taiwan is the presenting country at Paraguay’s FITPAR tourism fair, which runs through Oct. 18 and is offering travel packages and prizes. Taiwan is also promoting southern destinations with airline and travel-platform partners through rewards for international visitors. Hotels and Events: The 347-room InterContinental Taipei has opened with seven restaurants, while the Taiwan International Travel Fair is set for early November. Night-Sky Tourism: Lala Mountain has become Taiwan’s first Urban Night Sky Place, adding a dark-sky attraction for visitors.