The R.O.C. Association for Long-Haul Wholesalers has passed a resolution to raise prices for tourist groups going to Europe and North America. The increase will take place in two stages beginning in May and will total between NT$1,000 and NT$5,000.
Europe and North America are the main destinations for Chinese from Taiwan traveling outside of Asia. According to industry estimates, around 60,000 person-trips were directed to North America last year and 33,000 to Europe, with the annual growth rate reaching 20 to 30 percent.
The association, which is made up of eleven long-distance travel agencies, agreed to raise prices in two stages, by around NT$3,000 to Europe in May and June and by around NT$3,500 to NT$5,000 after July, depending on price adjustments by the airlines.
Association spokesman Eddy Lin cited the following factors in announcing the association's decision:
(1) The U.S. dollar has depreciated against European currencies by 17 to 20 percent compared with last year, and the NT dollar has depreciated against the U.S. dollar by three to five percent.
(2) Overseas travel agencies have raised their prices, and the price of overseas hotels, tour buses and entry tickets have gone up by around seven to eight percent a year.
(3) Domestic inflation has increased costs of doing business.
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