Taiwan eases entry laws for Indians with visas to the West

New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) Keen to attract tourists, Taiwan
has eased its laws to allow visa-free entry to those Indians
who hold valid visas of several countries including the US,
the UK and Schengen states.

Besides these, Indian tourists who also hold valid visas
of countries like Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand,
can stay up to 30 days in Taiwan.
However, such tourists have to obtain a permit for
visa-exempt entry through advance online registration system
of the Taiwanese immigration authorities, Taiwanese
Representative (Ambassador) in India Wenchyi Ong told PTI
here.
The move comes in the wake of a decline in the number of
Indians visiting Taiwan last year. The number of visas granted
to Indian passport holders by Taipei Economic and Cultural
Center last year was only 10,170.
There are only three flights a week by China Airlines
between Delhi and Taipei, but no Indian airline operates to
Taiwan at present.
Wenchyi said the Taiwan Visitors Association and Taiwan
Tourism Bureau had drawn up attractive tour packages
tailor-made for Indians.
Several tourist attractions and island tour programmes
are being focused upon by the Bureau and travel agents,
keeping in mind Indians' penchant for shopping, said Visitors
Association Inspector General Joseph H Ru. PTI ARC