Issued by: Department of Information and Tourism
On October 2, 2025, the Chiayi City Government held a “Promotion and Exchange Meeting for Thai Tourism Operators” at the Holiday Inn Express Chiayi, inviting Thai travel operators and KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) to visit Chiayi City. This event was supported by the Central Taiwan Regional Governance Platform, with participation from Taichung City, Hsinchu City, Hsinchu County, Miaoli County, Nantou County, Changhua County, and Yunlin County, showcasing regional tourism potential and expanding international marketing benefits through cross-domain cooperation. The city government hopes to demonstrate the tourism connection of “Taiwan, Thailand, Tie Together,” creating more international travel opportunities and further expanding overseas markets.
Director Zhang Wanfen of the Department of Information and Tourism stated that this event combined local accommodation providers, specialty souvenir shops, and representatives from various counties and cities within the Central Taiwan Regional Governance Platform to showcase the spirit of tourism exchange encapsulated in “Taiwan–Thailand Tie Together.” Director Zhang mentioned that as early as 2023, Mayor Huang Min-hui personally led a city government delegation, along with representatives from the Chiayi City City God Temple and the tourism industry, to Bangkok, Thailand, for tourism exchanges. The first stop was a visit to the Thai Outbound Tourism Association (TTAA), where they were received by Chief Consultant Anake Srishevachart, laying the groundwork for future cooperation.
Director Zhang pointed out that according to statistics from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications’ Tourism Bureau, the number of Thai travelers to Taiwan has continued to rise following the end of the pandemic, reaching 394,688 in 2023 and expected to surpass 400,000 in 2024. In the first half of this year alone, there have been 205,199 arrivals. The visa exemption policy extension, an increase in Thai-language guided resources, and convenient flight options are all significant factors attracting Thai travelers. In light of this growth trend, ten Thai travel agencies and ten KOLs were invited to deepen the tourism connection through on-site experiences and exchanges, aiming to attract more Thai visitors to Chiayi City and open up deeper cooperation for international marketing. Director Zhang humorously played with the phonetics of Chiayi, noting that its pronunciation can sound like “Chia Chia,” evoking the dance cha-cha and encouraging thoughts of “U and I” alongside Chiayi City.
Director Zhang also added that recognition from international platforms has enhanced Chiayi City’s visibility. The well-known digital travel platform Agoda announced its “2025 Emerging Travel Destination Rankings” in January of this year, naming Chiayi as the fastest-growing city for overseas travelers visiting Taiwan, particularly highlighting beloved local dishes such as turkey rice and clay pot fish head. In August, Agoda released its “2025 Asia Revisit Cities” ranking, where Chiayi made its debut in Taiwan’s top five, showcasing its high attractiveness and revisit potential. Additionally, Taiwan’s Alishan was featured in the “52 Places to Go in 2025” list by The New York Times, further elevating Chiayi’s international profile due to its lush mountain scenery and forest railway. These rankings indicate that Chiayi has become a “must-visit” destination for both domestic and international travelers.
Li Qiguang, Chairman of the Chiayi City Hotel Association, expressed special gratitude to the Chiayi City Government for organizing this exchange meeting, allowing local accommodation providers the opportunity to establish direct communication and cooperation with Thai tourism operators to jointly promote tourism in Chiayi. Chairman Li pointed out that in addition to the internationally renowned beauty of Alishan, the city boasts rich historical features, cultural creativity, and local snacks, along with a unique coffee culture where almost every street has its own distinctive café. This warmth and passion are what make Chiayi a “happy city.”
Natnicha Lailomthong, CEO of Thailand’s Limelime Group, expressed her delight at being back in Chiayi. She reminisced about the tourism industry matchmaking event held by the Chiayi City Government in Bangkok in 2023, which allowed Thai operators to discover that Chiayi has many unique city attractions and cultural assets beyond Alishan, particularly the impressive wooden houses. She is looking forward to the diverse itinerary and experiential activities planned for this trip. Natnicha mentioned that Taiwanese people are always warm and lovely, putting great effort into preparing for visitors, which is truly touching. She hopes to facilitate deeper cooperation between Thai tourism operators and Chiayi, encouraging more Thai travelers to experience the diverse tourism offerings of Chiayi.
The Thai tourism operators will visit representative attractions and culinary spots in Chiayi City, including turkey rice, the Prison Museum, the Chiayi City Cultural Center, the Tile Museum, the Hinoki Village, Beimen Station, the Alishan Forest Railway Depot Area, and the scenic Alishan. They will also attend the “2025 Light Weaving Dance – Light and Shadow Art Exhibition” at Beixiang Lake to personally experience the cultural depth and tourism charm of Chiayi City.
Director Zhang Wanfen emphasized that this promotional exchange is also a warm-up for Chiayi City’s three major tourism events at the end of the year: the “Light Weaving Dance – Light and Shadow Art Exhibition” from October 4 to 19 at Beixiang Lake, the “320+1 City Expo” from December 12 to 28, and the grand finale, the “International Wind Music Festival.” These three events will showcase the art, culture, and urban vitality of Chiayi City.
This exchange event invited 17 accommodation providers and 6 specialty shops to participate, including Nice Prince Hotel, Fullon Voco Chiayi, Holiday Inn Express Chiayi, Hsin Hotel, Orient Luxury Hotel, Look Royal Resort, Alishan Chih Feng Royal Chiayi Hotel, Guanko Hotel, Maison de Chine Hotel Chiayi, Xiang Ti Shishang Motel, Taiu Urban Resort, Liyaou Hotel, Li-Gin Motel, Jen Ju Hotel, Home Way Hotel, de rěve Express Hotel, and Lin Congming Clay Pot Fish Head, Apan Meat Bun, Huanghe Honey, FENCHIFU Rice Cakes, Town-Chen Goose Store, and Shu Zhi Ren. Together, they showcased the complete tourism energy of Chiayi City in terms of food, accommodation, activities, and shopping.