2026 Sustainable Travel in Hualien Stay by the sea with subsidies, deals & big rewards

(中央社訊息服務20260327 15:22:21)To boost both inbound and domestic tourism, the Hualien County Government is launching parallel incentives for independent travelers and group tours. For independent travelers, the county has teamed up with Lion Travel, ezTravel, and Klook to introduce the “Breathe in Hualien: Treat Yourself to an Ocean Getaway” campaign. For travel agencies, it has rolled out the 2026 “Explore Hualien Sustainably” Travel Agency Incentive Program, featuring three major incentives and a NT$1 million competition. The initiative is designed to encourage agencies to create diverse, sustainability-focused itineraries that will attract both domestic and international visitors, extend their stays, and deepen their experience of Hualien’s mountain-and-sea landscapes and local culture.

Deputy Mayor Yen Hsin-Chang said Hualien is blessed with breathtaking mountain and ocean scenery as well as a rich cultural heritage. With sustainable tourism remaining a core policy priority, the county government is using incentive programs to encourage both travel agencies and visitors to embrace environmentally friendly, locally supportive ways of traveling, allowing tourism to become a driver of shared local prosperity. He added that the county has also partnered with online travel platforms to launch special travel deals and welcomed visitors to come enjoy Hualien this spring.

Independent Travel Deals for a Slower Journey Through Hualien

To revitalize Hualien’s tourism industry and drive local spending, the county government has integrated transportation, lodging, and experiential travel resources and joined forces with Lion Travel, ezTravel, and Klook to launch the “Breathe in Hualien: Treat Yourself to an Ocean Getaway” independent travel campaign. Promoted across the three platforms, the program features flexible and attractively priced travel options with convenient transportation, encouraging visitors to stay longer and more fully experience Hualien’s mountain-and-sea appeal.

As part of the partnership, Lion Travel is offering a range of rail travel and Taiwan High Speed Rail independent travel packages, including selected experiences such as small-farm herb tours and wood-fired bread DIY activities, customizable pet-friendly three-day, two-night stays, and self-drive itineraries that combine high-speed rail and car rental. No quota limit applies, and each traveler is eligible for an NT$500 discount. ezTravel is rolling out themed “Sanrio” itineraries that can be paired with stays at more than 1,000 hotels. Travelers may claim discount codes through the platform or app, with package tours eligible for an NT$500 discount per person. Klook, meanwhile, is offering a limited instant discount of NT$200 on popular Hualien experiences, including Farglory Ocean Park, Shin Kong Chao Feng Ranch & Resort, and Xiuguluan River rafting. During the campaign period, travelers who present proof of online purchase at participating partner stores in Hualien may also enjoy additional in-store discounts or receive gifts with qualifying purchases, further enhancing the travel experience while boosting local spending.

Inbound Group Tours and Flight-and-Hotel Packages Expand Domestic and International Markets

For travel agencies, the county’s incentive package includes three major incentives and an NT$1 million competition. Under the Inbound Group Tour Incentive Program, agencies bringing in groups of 12 or more foreign visitors who stay in Hualien for at least two nights and visit at least one designated tourism item may apply for a subsidy of NT$1,000 per person per night, up to a maximum of NT$4,000 per traveler. The program is designed to encourage travel agencies to expand their reach in the international market.

The county is also introducing the Hualien Direct Flight-and-Hotel Package Incentive Program. Travel agencies may apply for subsidies for flight-and-hotel packages that include direct domestic flights to Hualien from Taipei Songshan, Kaohsiung, or Taichung, or direct international flights from Incheon, together with stays of at least two nights in Hualien. The subsidy provides up to NT$500 per person per night for a maximum of four nights, or NT$2,000 per traveler in total, with each travel agency eligible to apply for up to NT$500,000. The international route subsidy applies only to foreign travelers, while the domestic route subsidy is open to all travelers, making the program especially suitable for smaller groups of fewer than 12 people.

Domestic Group Tour Incentives and Competition Rewards Aim to Boost Stays and Spending

In addition, the Hualien County Government is introducing a Domestic Group Tour Incentive Program running from April 1 to June 30, 2026. Travel agencies arranging groups of 30 or more that stay in Hualien for at least two nights may apply for an NT$10,000 subsidy per group, as long as the itinerary includes eco-labeled hotels, green restaurants, environmental education sites, GSTC-certified accommodations, or designated tourism activities and attractions in Hualien. Each travel agency may apply for up to five groups. The program carries a total budget of NT$1 million, with reservations opening at 10 a.m. on March 3, 2026, on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are exhausted.

Designated travel offerings span the arts, nature, and water-based experiences, including the Pacific International Rock Balancing Art Festival, the Xiuguluan River Rafting Triathlon, the Danongdafu Firefly Season, and activities such as rafting, SUP, and whale-watching. Designated attractions also include Jiang Jun Fu (General’s House), Dongdamen Night Market, Ji’an Qingxiu Temple, Lintianshan Forestry Culture Park, and Danongdafu Forest Park, encouraging visitors to explore Hualien’s cultural and natural landscapes.

Hualien County Government will also launch a Group Tour Recruitment Incentive Program. Based on actual group tour arrivals recorded between April 1 and November 30, 2026, the top three travel agencies will receive cash prizes of NT$600,000, NT$300,000, and NT$100,000, respectively, for a total prize pool of NT$1 million, as an incentive to actively expand the group travel market.

Flagship Events Energize the City Year-Round

Director-General Joshua Yu of the Tourism Department said Hualien will follow up in 2026 with a lineup of flagship events, beginning with the Hualien Pacific Lantern Festival, which will light up the start of the year. Other highlights include the Hualien Pacific Wave Half Marathon, the Hualien Shan-Hai Cycling Adventure E-Stamp Tour, the Pomelo Blossom Road Race, the 2026 International Children’s Games (ICG), and the 2026 Club Crew World Championships (CCWC). By leveraging the appeal of these events and competitions, Hualien hopes to build citywide momentum and attract more international visitors.

The program also connects travelers with a range of official tourism and transportation resources, including the Taiwan Tourist Shuttle (https://www.taiwantrip.com.tw/) and Taiwan Tour Bus (https://www.taiwantourbus.com.tw/). For more information, please visit the official Explore Hualien Sustainably website (https://hltrip.tw/agency/), the independent travel campaign page on the Hualien Tourism Information Network (https://tour-hualien.hl.gov.tw/travel225.htm), or the Hualien Tourism AI Assistant (https://hualien.travel/ai-service/).