The Taiwan Tourism Administration concluded “2026 Taiwan Day in Manila” held Aug. 22-23 at One Ayala, Makati City, after welcoming 1,133 Filipino visitors over two days. The turnout underscored strong interest in Taiwan as it has risen to No. 3 among overseas destinations for Filipino travelers.
The event’s organizer, Cindy Chen, Director, Taiwan Tourism Administration, joined Minister Michael Lee, The Deputy Representative of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines; Jel Directo, President of the Creator and Influencer Council of the Philippines (CICP); Jaison Yang, President of the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA); and representatives from China Airlines, EVA Air and STARLUX Airlines in opening the event.
Centered on the theme “Taiwan 100 Ways: Find Your Wave, Discover Your Way,” the event premiered four themed travel videos featuring Filipino creators and officially launched the “Taiwan 100 Ways – Film Your Way” short-video contest.
A Young and Growing Travel Market
With a population of about 116 million and an average age of just 26, the Philippines is a large and youthful outbound travel market with significant growth potential. As the economy grows and the middle class expands, demand for outbound travel continues to rise. Philippine outbound trips reached 7.64 million in 2025, up 12% from 2024.
According to the latest 2026 statistics from the Philippine Department of Tourism, Taiwan remains among the top three overseas destinations for Filipino travelers. Convenient flight connections and Taiwan’s trial visa-free entry program have helped Taiwan maintain this position.
This year, the Taiwan Tourism Administration is focusing its public relations, product development and industry support efforts on four travel themes: food, culture, outdoor travel and stopovers.Through the Taiwan Tourism Information Center in Manila, the Tourism Administration is also strengthening two-way engagement with local travel operators and prospective visitors, with the goal of attracting more Filipino travelers to Taiwan and bringing tourism exchanges between Taiwan and the Philippines to record levels.
To highlight the close ties between Taiwan and the Philippines as island nations, the opening ceremony featured the “Taiwan Sailor’s Knot” at center stage, with a knot representing the connection between the Philippines and Taiwan, the ties that continue to bring us closer together.
The maritime theme also echoed the Tourism Administration’s “TAIWAN – Waves of Wonder” brand. When guests from Taiwan and the Philippines pulled the ropes taut, the knot loosened, symbolically unlocking the many ways to experience Taiwan and officially marking the launch of the short-video contest.
Cindy Chen, Director, Taiwan Tourism Administration, said Filipino travelers’ enthusiasm for Taiwan is the driving force behind the Administration’s continued efforts in the Philippine market. She expressed hope that the four featured Filipino creators, each with more than 1 million followers, would inspire more Filipinos to create and share their own Taiwan travel videos.
Filipino Creators Explore Taiwan Through Four Themes
The four themed videos featured leading Filipino creators exploring the routes firsthand.
On the food route, “Waves of Flavor,” fashion, food and lifestyle creator Laureen Uy-Cruz explored Michelin Guide restaurants, including Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand picks. On the culture route, “Waves of Culture,” the duo behind travel vlog The Poor Traveler visited Tamsui Old Street and the Fulong International Sand Sculpture Art Festival. On the outdoor route, “Waves of Vitality,” vlogger-actor Kimpoy Feliciano visited Sun Moon Lake and Guguan Hot Spring. On the stopover route, “Waves of Stopover,” former flight attendant Jen Barangan-David showed how passengers can use a layover at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to visit both new and established landmarks, including the Danjiang Bridge and Taipei 101.
Interactive Stations and On-Site Highlights
To build interest in travel to Taiwan, the event featured four themed experience stations. Visitors who completed the activities could enter a raffle for round-trip EVA Air ticket to Taipei, with departures available from Manila, Clark or Cebu. A total of 1,133 Filipino visitors took part in the two-day event.
The Human Claw Machine drew some of the longest lines of the event, with visitors eager to try their luck at grabbing Taiwan-themed prizes.
Another highlight was the “Taiwan Connection Station,” a retro-style phone booth where Filipino families with relatives or friends working or studying in Taiwan could connect by live video, creating heartfelt moments of reunion for families separated by distance.
Beyond the on-site activities, the Taiwan Tourism Administration is also promoting repeat travel through “Return to Taiwan, Double Your Luck.” Filipino independent travelers who visited Taiwan on or after Jan. 1, 2023, and return on or after Oct. 10, 2026, can register for a chance to receive NT$5,000 in travel credit. Winners traveling with a companion visiting Taiwan for the first time will receive NT$5,000, while their companion can receive NT$3,000, for a combined value of up to NT$8,000. Online registration opens at 10 a.m. on Oct. 1, 2026, and the program runs through March 31, 2027. The promotion encourages past visitors to return to Taiwan and bring friends or family along on their next trip.
“Taiwan 100 Ways – Film Your Way” Contest Now Open
The “Taiwan 100 Ways – Film Your Way” short-video contest is jointly organized by the Taiwan Tourism Administration and the Creator and Influencer Council of the Philippines (CICP), with strong support from China Airlines and STARLUX Airlines.
Submissions are open from Aug. 22, 2026, through Jan. 15, 2027. The contest is open to all Filipinos, and entries must be 30- to 60-second vertical videos.
Awards will be presented to the winners at “Taiwan Day in Cebu” in March 2027. Full entry details are available on the official Taiwan Tourism PH Facebook page.
