JAPAN, US LOBBYING: The government is talking with Japan to recognize the Medigen vaccine, and to the US to remove a Taiwan travel advisoryBy Shelley Shan / Staff reporter
AWARENESS: The nation’s brand has been kept alive during the pandemic by promotional events, such as a sale of Taiwan-themed food in Japanese storesBy Cheng Wei-chi and Jonathan Chin / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNA
People who have not received a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot can join domestic tour groups if they present a negative rapid test result taken within 48 hours before departure, the Tourism Bureau said yesterday.
The bureau revised its disease prevention guidelines for domestic tour groups, which took effect yesterday, after the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) eased booster shot requirements for domestic travelers.
The CECC requirement, which was implemented on April 22, was widely criticized by travel agents, as they only had one week to adapt to the change.
Nevertheless, the vaccination rate for booster shots had reached nearly 70 percent as of
CLOSE CALLS: If a tourist tests positive, only family members they live with would be considered as close contacts, not other members of the tour, the CECC saidBy Shelley Shan and Lee I-chia / Staff reporters
Taiwan was recognized as the “Inclusive Destination of the Year” among nations that are not members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the Halal in Travel Awards this year.
The awards were held on Wednesday last week by Singapore-based CrescentRating, which annually collaborates with Mastercard on the Global Muslim Travel Index. The awards were held for the first time to recognize travel destinations, organizations, companies and individuals with a profound impact on Halal tourism.
For a second year, the index also ranked Taiwan as the second-most attractive destination among nations that are not part of the OIC. Last year, Taiwan