Australian and NZ travel to Taiwan up by 26% in 2024, further 16% rise forecast for 2025

SYDNEY, Sept. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA) has officially opened its Australian Taiwan Tourism Information Centre (TTIC) in Sydney, as Taiwan continues to grow in popularity as a destination for Australian and New Zealand travellers.

The new information centre opening comes as recent visitor data shows a growing trend for Australian and New Zealand travel to Taiwan, with visitor numbers up by more than 26% in the past year and forecast to climb a further 16% in 2025. More than 60% of Australians and New Zealanders who travel to Taiwan do so for leisure, making it one of Asia’s most exciting emerging leisure destinations for down-under travellers. Arrivals between January and May 2025 were already up 17.47% against the same period in 2024, and TTA anticipates 150,000 ANZ visitors in 2025.

Conveniently located in the CBD at 22 Market Street, Sydney, the new TTIC is designed to inspire travellers with marvelous attractions and diversity in Taiwan, useful travel advice, cultural showcases and insider tips to help plan the ultimate Taiwan getaway.

“Australian travellers are adventurous and discerning, seeking meaningful cultural encounters and authentic nature experiences, and Taiwan has it all,” said Mr. Shih-fang Huang, Deputy Director General  of Taiwan Tourism Administration.

“With the opening of our new TTIC Sydney office, we’re making it even easier for Australians to discover Taiwan’s beauty, flavours and culture, while strengthening our partnerships here and underscoring our commitment to the country,”

Why Australians Are Choosing Taiwan

From buzzing night markets to mountain escapes, Taiwan offers a unique blend of adventure, culture and relaxation. With a taste for new destinations, ANZ travellers are also increasingly drawn to Taiwan for its safety, value, and variety. The island offers:

• Relaxation & Escape: Hot springs, mountain trails, and island-hopping.
• Cultural Discovery: Temples, indigenous traditions, lantern festivals, and night markets.
• Spectacular Nature: Taroko Gorge, Sun Moon Lake, and Alishan forests offer world-class outdoor adventure.
• Culinary Excellence: Street food, bubble tea, and fine dining now recognised by the Michelin Guide Taiwan 2025.
• Sustainable Travel: Green transport and low-impact activities appeal to eco-conscious visitors.
• Warm Hospitality & Safety: Consistently ranked among Asia’s friendliest and safest destinations.
• Ease & Value: Efficient transport and excellent value make exploring Taiwan seamless and rewarding.

What’s On in Taiwan – 2025/26 Highlights

Taiwan’s cultural calendar blends Minnan and Hakka heritage, Japanese influences, and Austronesian traditions. Culinary experiences, from street food to Michelin-starred dining, add to its appeal. Year-round highlights for ANZ visitors include:

• Taiwan Lantern Festival (March 2026, Chiayi): A dazzling celebration of light and technology, with multimedia-enhanced lantern displays.
• East Coast Land Art Festival & Moonlight Sea Concerts (June–Sept): Art, music, and sea views under the stars.
• Cycling & Birdwatching Festivals (Autumn): Ideal for active travellers and nature lovers.
• Hot Spring & Fine-Cuisine Carnival (Winter): Wellness paired with award-winning dining.
• New Taipei Christmas land & Taipei 101 Countdown:Asia’s most spectacular festive lights and fireworks.
• Gold-Label Marathons: Internationally certified races including the Taipei and Wan Jin Shi Marathons.

Next Steps in ANZ

Alongside the office opening, TTA will launch out-of-home campaigns in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Auckland, and participate in trade events such as TADA Sydney and Total Holiday Options (THO) across ANZ.

The Sydney TTIC opening also builds on the success of recent B2B and B2C activations, including the Taiwan Tourism ANZ Roadshows in Brisbane, Sydney, Auckland and Melbourne and targeted campaigns promoting Taiwan’s unique offerings.

Direct flights are available on China Airlines and EVA Air from Australia to Taiwan, with additional options via Singapore, Bangkok, and Hong Kong. Air New Zealand also has direct flights from Auckland to Taiwan.

Taiwan Tourism Information Centre Sydney (TTIC Sydney) 

Suite 102, Level 1, 22 Market Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
Office Hours: Mon–Fri, 9am–12pm and 1pm–5pm (closed on National & NSW public holidays)

info@taiwantourismaunz.com

 eng.taiwan.net.tw

SINGAPORE, Sept. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Digital travel platform Agoda is spotlighting the growing appeal of secondary destinations this World Tourism Day. As travelers increasingly seek unique experiences, Agoda notes a rise in accommodation searches for these lesser-known locales, even outpacing traditional hotspots. This trend not only has the potential to enrich the travel experience but could also unlock economic opportunities for local communities, according to the company.

Agoda’s data reveals that travelers are increasingly searching for secondary destinations, and at a pace 15% faster than top tier destinations compared to the same period in 2023. This shift is evident in some of Asia’s most popular tourism markets, like India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, and Thailand, where tourism ministries actively promote secondary destinations. For instance, Japan’s marketing focus on regional tourism and India’s UDAN regional air connectivity program are playing a notable role in driving this change.

As a digital travel platform, Agoda plays a key role in promoting Asia’s secondary cities by enabling properties in rural areas to transition to digital platforms, increasing their visibility and accessibility. By partnering with Destination Management Organizations, Agoda leverages its extensive data insights and marketing channels to highlight lower-profile destinations.

Omri Morgenshtern, CEO of Agoda, shared, “The increasing popularity of secondary destinations provides an opportunity to create a more prosperous travel industry and boost local economies. Agoda is proud to support this transformation by raising the profile of these locations to a global audience as we know spreading the tourism dollar more widely brings a wide range of benefits to communities.”

In celebration of World Tourism Day, Agoda is launching a special sales campaign. Running from September 24 to October 8, the World Tourism Day sale will offer up to 60% off hotel bookings, with special flash sales on September 27 and October 6 offering up to 70% off, along with exclusive deals on flights and activities. Agoda VIP members will receive early access to deals from September 21 to 23. Discover more at Agoda.com and find the best deals on Agoda’s mobile app.

— ENDS —

HONG KONG, Sept. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Himel, the globally acclaimed manufacturer and supplier of electrical products has successfully launched its “I Love Control” campaign across Bangladesh, Mongolia, South Africa, Malaysia, and Indonesia—marking a significant milestone in advancing its core “Powering Infinity” brand vision. Founded in Spain in 1958, Himel has expanded from its roots to serve over 60 countries, delivering reliable, affordable, and innovative electrical products. Its “Powering Infinity” vision embodies a commitment to long-term growth and empowering communities worldwide through smart energy solutions.

The “I Love Control” initiative, focused on industrial control and HVAC automation, has resonated strongly in each market. It showcases Himel’s comprehensive portfolio—including AI-powered EBA (Energy Management & Building Automation) systems (delivering up to 30% energy savings), SP Series Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) with built-in pumping protection, globally top-ranked smart relay controllers, and the new X series contactor, overload relay, motor circuit breaker designed for flexible application across pumping, HVAC, conveyor systems, and machinery. All solutions are tailored to enhance efficiency in HVAC systems, industrial ventilation, pumping operations, and residential/commercial electrical setups. The initiative has received positive feedback from partners and customers, who highlight the portfolio’s durability, safety, and alignment with local infrastructure development goals.

Koon San Ang, Himel’s International Sales Vice President, noted: “Amid global political and economic instability, our ‘I Love Control’ campaign underscores our steadfastness—trusted channel partners and user-centric solutions drive our growth. By deepening partner collaboration, we’re building an ecosystem that supports partners while meeting local communities’ demands.” Danny Wang, Himel’s Chief Marketing Officer, added: “‘I Love Control’ is a core pillar of our ‘Powering Infinity’ brand vision. Under this vision, it showcases our product strength by empowering HVAC systems and partners with smart solutions. Each achievement in this initiative boosts our brand value, expands our global influence, and helps ‘Powering Infinity’ reach more regions—solidifying our role in driving industry efficiency and sustainability.”

Himel is set to introduce the products and EBA solutions to Saudi Arabia and The United Arab Emirates in the coming months, further expanding its global presence and bringing its innovative and sustainable solutions to more communities worldwide.

To learn more about Himel’s products and the “I Love Control” initiative, visit https://www.himel.com/gb.

TOKYO, Sept. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — TIER IV, the pioneering force behind open-source software for autonomous driving, is thrilled to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding to jointly explore opportunities to foster the development of sovereign autonomous mobility and implement autonomous driving solutions with Saudi Arabian digital services and autonomous mobility developer Elm. Through this strategic collaboration, both companies aim to realize smart mobility services powered by advanced sovereign autonomous driving technologies in Saudi Arabia, as well as grow local engineering talents.

Collaboration details

By leveraging Elm’s background in developing innovative sovereign solutions and technologies for Smart and Autonomous Mobility in the Middle East, and TIER IV’s track record of autonomous mobility powered by Autoware *1 in Japan, the companies plan to accelerate safe and scalable autonomous vehicle deployments adapted to the diverse use cases across Saudi Arabia.

This collaboration is further strengthened by initiatives between the governments of Japan and Saudi Arabia to jointly drive economic development and innovation in the public and private sectors.

TIER IV will work with Elm in the following areas:

• Promotion of new mobility services such as robotaxis, adapted to local driving environments and regulations in Saudi Arabia
• Engineering talent development via Autoware-based training programs for academic and research institutions in Saudi Arabia, as well as through autonomous driving competitions
• Autoware ecosystem development in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East

Background

Saudi Arabia has formulated a long-term plan aimed at economic and social transformation called Saudi Vision 2030, with a focus on diversifying its economy. Key initiatives include fostering talent in the private sector, creating employment opportunities, and improving quality of life. Among its objectives, Saudi Arabia aims to make 15% of public transportation autonomous by 2030*2.

TIER IV and Elm are exploring opportunities for autonomous mobility services and the development of local engineering talent in Saudi Arabia under a Japanese government-backed initiative overseen by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

As a pioneer of Autoware, open-source software for autonomous driving, TIER IV is advancing the deployment of autonomous driving technology through global collaborations with automakers, Tier 1 suppliers, transportation operators, and system integrators. The company is also committed to developing skilled human resources through autonomous driving technology training programs and AI-powered autonomous driving competitions.

“At TIER IV, we have dedicated ourselves to accelerating the deployment of autonomous driving with Autoware, collaborating with partners worldwide,” said Shinpei Kato, founder and CEO of TIER IV. “This new partnership with Elm, a leader in digital transformation services in Saudi Arabia, will advance the localization of innovative autonomous technology and nurture engineering talent with skills adapted to Saudi Arabia’s specific needs, ultimately supporting local communities. From Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai to Expo 2030 Riyadh, we are thrilled to undertake this joint endeavor amidst growing international cooperation between Japan and Saudi Arabia.”

Majid bin Saad Alarifi, official spokesperson and Executive Vice President of Marketing at Elm, emphasized that the memorandum reflects the company’s commitment to strengthening the Kingdom’s position in smart mobility technologies. He explained “Our collaboration with TIER IV represents a qualitative step toward introducing and localizing world-class solutions that serve our national priorities, while investing in developing Saudi engineering capabilities and developing an innovation system capable of enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life. This partnership positions the Kingdom at the forefront of the global autonomous mobility industry”.

*1 Autoware is a registered trademark of the Autoware Foundation.
*2 Source: Arthur D. Little, Autonomous Mobility Journal, Edition IV.

About TIER IV

TIER IV stands at the forefront of deep tech innovation, pioneering Autoware, open-source software for autonomous driving. Harnessing Autoware, we build scalable platforms and deliver comprehensive solutions across software development, vehicle manufacturing, and service operations. As a founding member of the Autoware Foundation, we are committed to reshaping the future of intelligent vehicles with open-source software, enabling individuals and organizations to thrive in the evolving field of autonomous driving.

Media contact
pr@tier4.jp

• Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Tourism Organization have completed release of seven campaign films with global superstar JENNIE; total global views top 600 million.
• The campaign’s film-like storytelling with JENNIE starring as the main character “DALTOKKI” and featuring her song “Seoul City” from the album Ruby helped spread Seoul’s appeal worldwide.

SEOUL, South Korea, Sept. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Seoul’s global tourism campaign, “Absolutely in Seoul,” starring global K-pop artist JENNIE, has reached a cumulative 600 million views worldwide since the videos were released.

This milestone sets a new record in the history of Seoul’s global tourism campaigns – the biggest achievement in eight years – and underscores the powerful synergy between JENNIE and Seoul.

Centered on the theme “Anything is possible in Seoul,” the campaign was produced with cinematic, slightly fantastical storytelling and striking visual direction, designed to play like a short film.

The first main episode, “DALTOKKI,” follows a moon rabbit character (JENNIE) who loves Seoul and ultimately embarks on a whimsical journey to the city.

The second main episode, “SEOUL CITY,” uses the track “Seoul City” from JENNIE’s debut solo album “Ruby” as its soundtrack and showcases JENNIE as she explores hotspots across the city. Featured locations include the Hangang Bus, Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP), SEOULDAL, Gyeongbokgung Palace, Deoksugung Palace, COEX, Seongsu-dong, Bukchon Hanok Village, Euljiro, and Nodeulseom Island.

Public response to the campaign has been exceptionally enthusiastic. JENNIE’s appointment as Honorary Tourism Ambassador for Seoul generated 1,181 international news reports, and the campaign videos have been reposted over 50,000 times across social media, propelling the campaign to global virality.

Viewers from around the world left enthusiastic comments in multiple languages, praising the creative concept and JENNIE’s portrayal of Seoul: “JENNIE perfectly captures the charm of Seoul, where the old and the new coexist,” “Using JENNIE’s track “Seoul City” was a perfect match for a tourism campaign,” “After watching this, I’m eager to visit Seoul immediately,” etc.

Building on strong digital performance, the Seoul Tourism Organization plans to sustain global momentum through TV advertising and high-impact outdoor media in major overseas markets throughout the second half of the year.

“Today’s results demonstrate how Seoul has become a magnetic destination through K-pop and broader Hallyu content,” said an official from the Seoul Tourism Organization. “We will continue to pursue active global marketing to achieve our goal of attracting 30 million international visitors.”