Taiwan campaigns to lure Indonesian visitors

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Taiwan's government launched here on Tuesday a campaign to attract Indonesian businesspeople and tourists to the country, just three days after the World Health Organization (WHO) removed Taiwan from its list of SARS-affected areas.

In a press briefing, officials of the Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta announced various promotions and rewards for Indonesian businesspeople and tourists visiting Taiwan.

The rewards include free airline tickets and cash rewards of up to US$1,000 for those going to Taiwan on shopping visits.

"We will also hold several international exhibitions displaying automotive spare parts, automobiles, Internet telecommunication products, electronic goods, sporting goods, computers and souvenirs," said Derek Hsu, director of information at the Taipei Economic and Trade Office.

For tourists Taiwan has Euro49, a tour package costing 49 euro (US$52) per person and offering such benefits as free one-night accommodation and a half-day city tour.

Sui Chi Lin said Taipei Economic and Trade Offices in other countries in Asia, including Japan and South Korea, were holding similar campaigns to encourage people to visit Taiwan.

Taiwan is the fifth largest investor in Indonesia, with investments worth $13 billion as of May 2003. The total amount of two-way trade between Indonesia and Taiwan in the first four months of this year reached $43 billion and "will likely increase by the end of this year", said Sui.