Manila Economic and Cultural Office Philippine Representative Office in Taiwan
Taipei, June 30 (CNA) The trial visa-free treatment of tourists from Thailand, Brunei and the Philippines will be extended for another year, from Aug. 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced Friday.
The decision to extend visa-free treatment for citizens of the three countries was made following a review by relevant agencies at a meeting on April 25, MOFA said in a press statement.
"Considering the need to revive mutual bilateral exchanges and tourism in the post-pandemic era, the participating agencies decided to extend the trial visa-free entry measure for one year for nationals of Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines," the ministry said.
The ministry first granted visa-free treatment to tourists from Thailand and Brunei on Aug. 1, 2016. It has since been extended each year, with the Philippines added to the list.
MOFA, meanwhile, said that the "Project for Simplifying Visa Regulations for High-end Group Tourists from Southeast Asian Countries" will also continue for a further year through Dec. 31, 2024.
Under the project, which was first introduced in 2015, tourists from India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos are allowed to visit Taiwan using electronic visas if they are in a group of at least five and travel via an accredited travel agency.
In the statement, MOFA said it will continue to review and fine-tune visa policies, with a view to strengthening bilateral exchanges and attracting more visitors while ensuring border and public security.
"We will also continue to communicate with the governments of related countries to improve visa treatment for Taiwan nationals and make their overseas travel more convenient," MOFA said.
(By Henry Wu and Ko Lin)