TORONTO — A day filled with culture, laughter and meaningful exchanges marked the Taiwan Tourism Workshop in Toronto, where tourism partners gathered to celebrate the unique charm and strategic strengths of Taiwan as a travel destination.

Hosted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Toronto, the event included presentations from Taiwan’s leading airlines and tourism experts, an Indigenous Taiwanese dance performance, Taiwanese cuisine, bubble tea and Taiwan beer, plus one lucky attendee walked away with a great trip package to Taiwan.

Beyond the warmth and great food and drinks, deeper conversations unfolded about what makes Taiwan a must-visit destination.

“Why do people visit Canada?” Lawrence Yi-Peng Liang, Director General, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Toronto, asked the audience. “Niagara Falls? Polar bears? Or maybe the vast universe of experiences this country offers?” Then he turned the question around: “So why travel to Taiwan?”

Attendees were encouraged to think beyond stereotypes. They heard about Taiwan’s unique offerings, from the National Palace Museum – ranked among the world’s top ten most visited museums – to the Hsinchu Science Park, the heart of Taiwan’s world-leading semiconductor industry. Computex Taipei is one of the largest global events in the computer and communication technology sector, hosted by Taiwan’s trade council.

The presentations were full of did-you-knows. Here’s one: Taiwan’s metro system (MRT) has a 99% on-time rate and a customer satisfaction score exceeding 96% for six consecutive years. And here’s another: Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSRC) travels the length of the island in just 90 minutes, with an on-time performance of 99.8%. Visitors looking to get around Taiwan on public transit will find the systems clean and efficient.

Of course, few travellers head to Taiwan just for the trains. Natural beauty abounds, from tropical beaches to soaring mountain ranges. Taiwan boasts nine national parks and lush, accessible wilderness.

Taiwan’s cities are also renowned globally as cultural and culinary hotspots. Night markets and street food are a favourite for locals and visitors alike. Bubble tea – a Taiwanese innovation, and now much-loved around the world – is available just about everywhere you go. So is Taiwan’s warm hospitality.

“There’s even an unusual reason some might want to visit Taiwan,” said Yi-Peng Liang. “Perhaps curiosity – about how we prepare ourselves for uncertain times, about resilience, strength and community.”

A key message throughout the event was Taiwan’s balance of tradition and innovation, and the importance of people-to-people connections. Representatives from EVA Air, the Taiwan Tourism Administration and more all spoke about the growing cooperation between Canada and Taiwan in the travel sector.

Jin Juang, director of the Taiwan’s Tourism Administration’s New York office, echoed that sentiment in her remarks.

“Today is not only about showcasing Taiwan’s beauty,” she said. “It’s about partnership – coming together, exchanging ideas, and sparking new collaborations to introduce Taiwan to more Canadian travellers.”

Juang recalled the Taiwan-themed campaign that ran on Toronto’s TTC system earlier this year, which brought Taiwanese culture into the city streets with colour and fun.

“With your help, through your stories, your photos, and your platforms, we hope to inspire more Canadians to make Taiwan their next big adventure,” she said.

The prize trip included roundtrip airfare with EVA Air from Toronto to Taipei, hotel voucher, sightseeing tours, rail pass and more.

More information about travel to Taiwan can be found here.