Taiwan reconnects with Malaysians through ‘Waves of Wonder' travel fair
Off to a good start: The Waves of Wonder Taiwan Travel Fair officially launched in Penang for a three-day showcase. – Photos by KT GOH/ The Star
TAIWAN, which has been ranked the third most Muslim-friendly destination among non-OIC (Organisations of Islamic Co-operation) countries, is stepping up efforts to attract Malaysian tourists with the return of the Taiwan Travel Fair - Waves of Wonder to Penang after a break of a few years.
Held at Queensbay Mall from now to May 18, the three-day fair is part of a major promotional push by the Taiwan Tourism Administration, bringing together 57 delegates from 26 organisations including hotel groups, theme parks and travel associations.
Themed 'Railway Tourism' with the slogan 'Come to Taiwan for a Drink', the fair features a life-sized replica of the Haifeng Train (Sea Breeze Train), promoting scenic rail travel along Taiwan's coastlines.
Visitors checking out the travel fair, eager to explore the sights, tastes and travel deals.
With Muslim tourists forming a growing segment of Taiwan's visitors, a dedicated Taiwan Tourism Workshop was also held earlier and attended by over 100 local travel agents.
Taiwan Tourism Administration Kuala Lumpur director Abe Chou noted, 'Last year, we welcomed some 460,000 visitors including many Muslims from Malaysia.
'Our 'Salam Taiwan' campaign in Malaysia shows we are ready as we have more than 400 halal-certified restaurants and hotels and numerous prayer facilities across the country.'
Influencers like Wei Hong (with over 500,000 followers), Jing Jing and TV anchor Chen Jia-Rong (Ah Rong) were invited to the fair to share their Taiwan experiences, and inspire more Malaysians especially the large ethnic Chinese community in Penang to rediscover the island.
Over the weekend, visitors to the fair can enjoy DIY crafts, taste Taiwanese delicacies such as tofu pudding and teas, and catch live shows by award-winning performers like the Diabolo Walker, a troupe awarded six gold medals in the Taiwan National Sports Games, and nose flute artist Gilra Gilrao.
Event staff welcoming visitors with goodie bags and sharing information about Taiwan's travel highlights.
The fair also promotes Taiwan's new tourism brand 'Taiwan – Waves of Wonder' and last year, seven sites and two eco-friendly tourism operators made the Top 100 Green Destinations list.
Head of Taiwan's economic and cultural office in Malaysia Phoebe Yeh, said Taiwan offers something for everyone from scenic mountains like Jade Mountain (3,996m) for nature lovers to a nine-day cycling route over a 900km loop for adventure seekers.
'Travel on the Haifeng Train and enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean from the comfortable coaches,' she added.
Exclusive travel gifts await visitors who book their trips between now and May 18, during the fair where eight travel company booths and 26 Taiwanese representatives are showcasing tourism products and packages.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Haj visa cancellations spark concerns
Holy city: A picture showing the Mina camp as Muslim pilgrims arrive in Mecca for the annual haj pilgrimage. — AFP Just as this year's haj season is set to enter its peak, concerns have emerged among Indonesian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and people back home of mismanagement following reports of illegal pilgrimage attempts and visa cancellations. According to the Religious Affairs Ministry, all 203,149 Indonesian haj pilgrims, organised into 525 flight groups, have arrived in Mecca in batches by Sunday. They are now entering a rest period to prepare physically and mentally for the peak of this year's haj season, which begins today with travel to Mount Arafat, followed by Muzdalifah and Mina. 'All Indonesian haj pilgrims are now in Mecca in a safe and healthy condition. 'This is a great achievement that we should be grateful for together,' the ministry's secretary-general, Kamaruddin Amin, said in Mecca on Sunday as quoted from a statement from his office. For many Indonesians, the haj is a once-in-a-lifetime journey that typically comes after decades of waiting due to Saudi Arabia's quota system. The wait times, however, have led some Indonesians to attempt the haj without proper visas. This year, immigration officers at 14 departure points prevented about 1,080 people from leaving the country for Saudi without following official procedures. However, some managed to slip through the cracks by entering Saudi Arabia either on a work visa or a tourist visa, instead of a haj visa. As of May 15, 117 Indonesians had been deported for such violations. In one such case, an Indonesian man was found dead of dehydration while attempting to return to Mecca illegally through the desert after initially being denied entry. 'Furoda' visa furore has also erupted back home after about 1,000 Indonesians were unable to depart for the haj because Saudi failed to issue the mujamalah visa, also known as furoda, reportedly causing hundreds of millions in losses for pilgrims and billions for travel providers. The furoda visa is issued directly by the Saudi government and lies outside the Religious Affairs Ministry's official quota system. It allows recipients to bypass long waiting times, but costs significantly more, reportedly anywhere between Rp 270 million (RM70,450) and Rp 1 billion (RM260,900). — The Jakarta Post/ANN
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Room and durian a welcome combo
Cream of the crop: A worker holding a Musang King durian, which is one of the favourites among visitors from China, Hong Kong and Macau. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star Many hotels fully booked as holidaymakers flock to Penang GEORGE TOWN: Never underestimate the power of the Musang King, Black Thorn and all their genetic cousins to pull in the crowds. With the durian season here as well as the school holidays, most hotels were at least 85% full during the weekend, said Malaysian Association of Hotels Penang chapter chairman Tony Goh. He said that occupancy was strong during the period with some hotels fully booked, while others recorded over 85% full. 'The hotels were packed and did well during the long weekend. 'Hotels by the beach and in the town area were almost full,' Goh added. As with the yearly tradition, most hotels bundled room rentals with all-you-can-eat durian feasting. 'Penang is renowned for having orchards that produce durians you cannot find in other states. 'Other than the ever-popular Musang King and Black Thorn, there are 'vintage' clones like Hor Lor, Red Prawn, Green Skin and Capri, and rare variants like Tupai King and Lin Feng Jiao (purportedly named after Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan's wife). Breezy trail: Visitors enjoying their walk at the Esplanade in George Town, Penang. 'Each variant offers a slightly different tang, and for durian lovers, these are complex flavours to be appreciated and deciphered,' said Goh. Penang tourism committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the 'King of Fruits' was a fail-proof attraction. He said with the surge in visitors, the funicular train to Penang Hill also saw an increase in ridership: 6,691 on May 30; 8,183 (May 31); 9,396 (June 1); and 9,251 (June 2). 'The ridership totalled 33,521 in the past four days. 'On normal non-peak days, it is around 4,000 a day,' Wong said. He said the increase in visitors was also attributed to Singapore's school holidays, which had started as well. Wong urged tourism players, including hawkers, to give out good deals and provide top-level service during the holiday period. As for Penang's ever-popular murals, Wong urged visitors to avoid scribbling, scratching or defacing them, which had happened in the past. 'The murals are meant to be admired, not vandalised,' he said. Penang Tourist Guide Association chairman Clement Liang advised tourists to avoid engaging unlicensed tourist guides. 'Many visitors unknowingly hire unlicensed guides and end up being disappointed by the tours organised,' he said. Liang urged tourists to use only licensed hotels and facilities to avoid scams.
The Star
19 hours ago
- The Star
Factbox-What is the Muslim hajj pilgrimage?
Muslims perform morning prayers in the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, June 2, 2025. Saudi Press Agency/Handout via REUTERS DUBAI (Reuters) - Here is a look at the hajj, one of the largest mass gatherings in the world, which starts in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. * The hajj is an annual pilgrimage that millions of Muslims make to Mecca with the intention of performing religious rites as taught by the Prophet Mohammad to his followers 14 centuries ago. * The fifth pillar of Islam, the hajj is mandatory once in a lifetime for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it and is the most significant manifestation of Islamic faith and unity. * The hajj begins in the 12th month of the Islamic year, which is lunar, not solar, meaning the hajj and the fasting month of Ramadan fall at different times of the solar calendar each year. * A quota system for visitors to Mecca was introduced in 1987, agreed by member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, to limit the number allowed by each country to 0.1% of its population. * Stampedes, tent fires and other accidents have caused hundreds of deaths over the past 30 years, forcing the Saudi government to build new infrastructure. In 2011, Saudi Arabia began the biggest expansion yet of the Grand Mosque of Mecca to increase its capacity to 2 million. A new railway will link the holy sites around Mecca. * Eid al-Adha, one of Islam's two main festivals, marks the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, when Muslims slaughter animals - to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son on God's command - often distributing meat to the poor. (Reporting by Tala Ramadan and Michael Georgy)
