The Tourism Bureau on Monday raised the total reward for travel agencies that organize the most domestic tour groups during the COVID-19 pandemic to NT$1.1 billion (US$39.6 million) from NT$800 million announced previously.
People can also use travel vouchers, which would be issued soon, to pay for group tour fees, accommodation and other expenses as long as the services are offered by certified operators, it added.
Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) on Thursday said that the bureau would allocate NT$2 billion to fund the distribution of travel vouchers — NT$1.2 billion on the vouchers themselves and NT$800 million on incentive bonuses for travel agencies that attract the most domestic travelers.
However, the announcement drew criticism from small and medium-sized travel agencies, which said that the program would only benefit large travel agencies that can afford large marketing campaigns to attract customers.
Industry representatives lauded the increase in reward money, as well as the decision to allow people to use vouchers more flexibly.
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