Transportation Minister Lin Chia-lung says that a program subsidizing domestic travelers’ accommodations may end ahead of schedule.
The program is part of a broader plan to boost domestic tourism as the COVID-19 pandemic keeps international travel off the table. The program offers each citizen NT$1,000 (US$34) off one night’s stay on Taiwan proper or twice that amount for two nights on outlying islands. Other subsidies are available for tour groups.
However, the funding behind the program is beginning to run out. Of the NT$3.9 billion (US$133 million) set aside for the plan to boost tourism, NT$2.4 billion (US$ 82 million) has already been used.
The tourism bureau now proposes either increasing the budget for the subsidy plan, reducing the amount offered to travelers, or ending the plan ahead of the original October 31 end date.
Premier Su Tseng-chang said on Wednesday that domestic tourism has boomed since the government has started stimulus programs and government agencies would consider budget priorities as they evaluate the proposals.