TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan's tourism industry needs to be transformed, Transportation Minister Chen Shih-kai (陳世凱) said Thursday during a speech at a Taiwan Tourism Association event held at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 3.

First the sector must shift from mass tourism to high-value, sustainable models that prioritize quality over quantity, adapting to post-pandemic traveler preferences for more personalized experiences, the Liberty Times reported Chen as saying.

Second, he emphasized upgrading infrastructure and services, including faster visa processes, enhanced airport facilities, and better integration of technology such as AI to create more seamless travel.

Chen pointed to Taoyuan Airport's third terminal as a prime example, praising its modern design and expanded capacity to handle growing international arrivals amid global competition. His remarks come as Taiwan reports a rebound in visitor numbers this year, though officials stress the need to diversify source markets to reduce reliance on any single country.

Terminal 3’s eight new gates will increase the airport’s service capacity by about 5.8 million passengers per year. When fully functional, it is expected to accommodate an additional 45 million passengers annually, boosting the airport’s total capacity to more than 80 million travelers a year.