Taiwan has announced a series of incentives for international cruise operators, as the destination seeks to win more port calls and grow the fly-cruise sector.
For fly-cruise itineraries, the Taiwan Tourism Administration (TTA) will offer subsidies of up to NT$316 (US$10) international traveller. Taiwan must be included as a port of call.
Cruise operators carrying international passengers will need to dock in Taiwan for over 12 hours to receive subsidies of up to NT$474,277 per port call. Shorter stops are also eligible for subsidies of up to NT$237,138.
TTA hopes these incentives will result in more routes and enhance air-sea links with more international cruise operators.
Taiwan has seven main cruise ports – in Keelung, Taichung, Kaohsiung, Hualien, Anping, Penghu and Suao.
While the Taiwan International Ports Corporation notes that all ports are capable of handling large cruise ships, demand has not been even.
Port of Keelung for instance had a banner year for 2025, welcoming 219 cruise ship calls and a record-breaking 993,000 international cruise passengers. Four cruise lines also made their Taiwan debut at Keelung last year.
In contrast, Taichung Port welcomed its first international cruise in seven years in early April. The boutique cruise ship Island Sky had stopped at Kaohsiung and Magong prior, then left for Keelung and Hualien after the Taichung stop.