TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel site, today revealed its 2017 Summer Vacation Value Report highlighting the top 10 overseas destinations for Taiwanese travelers this summer1 based on the greatest increase in seasonal hotel booking interest from spring to summer 2017.
While the likes of Hong Kong, Osaka, and Kyoto continue to be the overall most searched-for destinations for travelers from Taiwan2, two relatively unknown destinations in Japan – Biei-cho and Kurashiki – came out as the top spots for summer holiday that are gaining popularity amongst Taiwanese travelers in terms of seasonal increase in interest.
A small town in Hokkaido, Biei-cho offers stunning scenic landscape with undulating hills and vast fields, while Kurashiki that is located in western Okayama Prefecture continues to draw travelers with its well-preserved architectural monuments and historic sites. Hoi An in Vietnam comes in at #3, followed by long haul destinations Cairns (Australia), Bergen (Norway), Edinburgh (Scotland, UK), Surfers Paradise (Australia). Rounding up a very interesting list of top 10 destinations are China’s multi-ethnic city Urumqi, the Canadian Rockies with picturesque mountain ranges and Hungary’s capital city Budapest.
“Summer is the perfect time to take a break, recharge, spend time with family and celebrate graduations,” said Janice Lee Fang, TripAdvisor’s communications director, Asia Pacific. “These destinations on our Summer Vacation Value Report reveal the changing tastes of Taiwanese travelers – that it’s not longer just about going to nearby cities for shopping or massages, but to go further afield and explore other cultures and have new experiences. Travelers should look on TripAdvisor for insights on what to do when they are in these destinations so they can be sure they will have a great time and that their trips are more memorable.”
Of the top 10, Hoi An offers the most reasonable room rate at an average nightly rate of US$75 per night, while Urumqi is the only other destination in the top 10 that offers accommodation at an average nightly rate of less than US$100 per night, at US$94. Edinburgh and the Canadian Rockies are at the other end of the scale, with average nightly rates averaging US$249 and US$308 respectively.
10 Overseas Destinations with Biggest Increase in Seasonal Hotel Booking Interest for Taiwanese Travelers:
(Excerpts in quotes below from TripAdvisor reviewers)
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Rank |
Destination |
Average Nightly Hotel Rate3 (US$) |
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1 |
$241 per night |
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Local Activity: Shikisai no Oka: Stop for a picture at the flower fields deemed as a “patchwork of rainbow in the summer”. Blue Pond: Be sure to visit before winter for a photo opportunity of “magnificent blue turquoise pond” that is reflective of the “Hokkaido nature experience”. Shirahige Falls: A short drive from the Blue Pond, this attraction is a “must-visit for families”. Get the best vantage point of the waterfall “from a walkway over a bridge close by”. |
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2 |
$197 per night |
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Local Activity: Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter: Bask in well-preserved architectural sites including museums and shrines in this old town that is “truly a photographer’s paradise”. Momotaro No Karkuri Hakubutsukan: A museum enjoyed by both children and adults for its “fantastic use of interactive multimedia and displays to recreate the journey of Peach Boy”. Ebisuya Kurashiki: Explore the old merchant town of Kurashiki on a rickshaw with this lovely tour that all would enjoy for the “wonderful service and smile” the polite guides provide. |
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3 |
$75 per night |
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Local Activity: Hoi An Ancient Town: The Unesco World Heritage Site is a must-see for being “one of the best-maintained, well-preserved old towns in Asia.” Be sure to check it out at night and get a taste of their “amazing street food” Jack Tran Tours: Get to know the local culture and lifestyle with this tour that is praised as “the best tour in Vietnam” offering “great fun for adults and kids”. |
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4 |
$143 per night |
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Local Activity: Barefoot Tour: Be prepared to get wet with this beautiful nature tour. Accompanied by knowledgeable and friendly tour guides, expect “a true guided hike experience” that is “without doubt the best value for money tour you will do in Cairns, or probably all of Australia”. Seastar Cruises Reef Day Trips: Guaranteed to be a “great experience even for non-swimmers”, the small group and well organized tour would certainly make you comfortable throughout the trip. Rusty’s Market: A “great place for exotic tropical fruits”, drop by the market for locally grown tropical fruits and vegetables and have a taste on them! |
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5 |
$209 per night |
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Local Activity: Mount Floyen and the Funicular: Pick a sunny day for this trip to enjoy a splendid day on the train and the top of the mountain. A popular place of visit, be sure “to buy your tickets in advance to avoid queueing”. “A must-visit in Bergen!” Fish Market: Get the “best value for money” at the Fish Market with its “fantastic delicious seafood variety and quality”. Bergen Segway: “The best way to see Bergen”, ride a segway and follow the knowledgeable tour guides to understand the history of Bergen. |
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6 |
$249 per night |
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Local Activity: Arthur’s Seat: Get a great exercise while visiting Arthur’s Seat for “spectacular views of Edinburgh”. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo: A must-see for the “Edinburgh castle at night and a lone bagpiper on the ramparts makes for a memorable experience”. Edinburgh Old Town: Walk around the birthplace of Harry Potter novels that is also an old town “full of surprises”. Elephant Café – where JK Rowling penned the first stories – is still there and “many attractions allude to their connections to the stories.” |
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7 |
$171 per night |
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Local Activity: Surfer’s Paradise Beach: Ranked as the #2 beach in South Pacific according to Travellers’ Choice awards 2017, travelers can shop, eat and play at this great beach that “offers miles and miles of beautiful clean sand”. Infinity Attraction: A great amusement park “full of twists and turns keeping you wanting more” offering “fantastic fun for all ages”. Note that the whole experience usually lasts less than an hour. |
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8 |
$94 per night |
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Local Activity: Tianshan Tianchi Lake: Enjoy picturesque scenery of this UNESCO site that is claimed as a “must see in Urumqi” featuring a high-mountain lake located in central part of Tianshan mountains. |
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9 |
$308 per night |
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Local Activity: Moraine Lake: Follow the simple trail to hike up the rock pile to get the best view of the stunning lake island that is “just as breathtaking each time”. Peyto Lake: Stunning views and praised to be “the most beautiful place in Banff National Park". |
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10 |
$179 per night |
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Local Activity: Fisherman’s Bastion : Bask in the architectural wonder that “looks like something out of a Disney film”. Miniversum : A fabulous museum that kids and adults would love for its “miniature models of buildings, landscapes and railways”. Central Market Hall : Spend some time shopping and tasting “all kinds of Hungarian Food” including langos, crepes, goulash fried flatbread and sausage in a cup. |
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Methodology
1Top international destinations for Taiwanese travelers for summer (July 1, 2017 — September 30, 2017) according to destinations seeing the greatest increase in seasonal hotel booking interest from spring to summer 2017 on TripAdvisor.
2 Hong Kong, Osaka and Kyoto are the top international destinations for Taiwanese travelers based on search interest in terms of unique sessions on TripAdvisor from 1 January to 30 April 2017.
3Avg. Nightly Hotel Rate is the average cost of a one-night stay in a hotel available on TripAdvisor, aggregated from booking partners.
