HL–Incheon Direct Flights to Launch Nov. 13, Expanding Int'l Tourism Opportunities
(中央社知訊台服務20250923 11:00:13)
Hualien County is making another major move toward international tourism. South Korea’s Aero K Airlines Co., Ltd. is planning to launch direct flights between Incheon and Hualien starting November 13, 2025, pending final confirmation. The route is expected to operate twice weekly, with round-trip flights on Thursdays and Sundays. Preparations are still underway, and the final launch date and flight schedule will be announced by Aero K.
Each flight will take approximately two hours and forty minutes, significantly improving travel convenience for Korean visitors. More importantly, the direct route creates an exciting new channel for attracting international tourists and generating fresh business opportunities for Hualien’s hospitality, retail, and tour service sectors. Ticket sales have not yet opened. Travel industry partners and prospective passengers are encouraged to follow Aero K and the Hualien County Government for the latest updates.
This new route not only benefits Korean travelers but also provides Hualien residents with a faster and more affordable international travel option. In the past, most international flights required long and costly transfers to Taoyuan International Airport. Now, travelers can depart directly from Hualien, reducing travel time and expenses and making international trips easier and more budget-friendly.
Hualien County Government has been actively developing the Korean market. In April, the county participated in the “2025 Northern Region of Korea Tourism Promotion Event” organized by Taiwan’s Tourism Administration, Ministry of Transportation and Communications. During the event, the delegation promoted Hualien tourism through direct engagement with Korean travel professionals, receiving highly positive feedback. In May, a Korean familiarization group visited Hualien to experience local attractions and sample curated travel itineraries. During their stay, Hualien County formally signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Aero K to establish the direct flight service, laying the foundation for this partnership.
To further boost bilateral tourism, the Hualien County Government will lead another travel industry delegation to Seoul this September. The team will host a Hualien Tourism Promotion Event, meeting with Korean travel agencies, media, and online travel platforms. The goal is to raise market visibility, encourage the development of Hualien-themed travel packages, and attract more Korean visitors to the region.
County Mayor Hsu Chen-Wei emphasized that South Korea is one of Hualien’s most important international source markets. The county will continue efforts to launch more direct international routes and is currently in active discussions to establish direct flights between Hualien and Japan. This would further strengthen Hualien’s connectivity to key markets in Northeast Asia and enhance the overall impact of the county’s international tourism strategy.
To support inbound group travel, the Hualien County Government has launched the “2025 Overseas Group Travel Incentive Program.” The program encourages Korean and other international travel agencies to organize tours to Hualien. For groups of 12 or more travelers staying at least two nights in Hualien and participating in at least one designated sustainable travel activity (such as staying at an eco-friendly hotel, dining at a green restaurant, visiting an environmental education site, experiencing zero-carbon travel, or registering on the Net Zero Hualien app) agencies may apply for travel incentives of up to NT$4,000 per participant. Incentives will be available through November 30, 2025, or until all funds are distributed.