Taiwan eases entry laws for Indians who hold valid visas to the West

Keen to attract tourists, Taiwan has eased its laws to allow visa-free entry to those Indians who hold valid visas of several countries including the US, the UK and Schengen states.
    
Besides these, Indian tourists who also hold valid visas of countries like Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, can stay up to 30 days in Taiwan.

However, such tourists have to obtain a permit for visa-exempt entry through advance online registration system of the Taiwanese immigration authorities, Taiwanese Representative (Ambassador) in India Wenchyi Ong told PTI here.

The move comes in the wake of a decline in the number of Indians visiting Taiwan last year. The number of visas granted to Indian passport holders by Taipei Economic and Cultural Center last year was only 10,170.

There are only three flights a week by China Airlines between Delhi and Taipei, but no Indian airline operates to Taiwan at present. 

Wenchyi said the Taiwan Visitors Association and Taiwan Tourism Bureau had drawn up attractive tour packages tailor-made for Indians.

Several tourist attractions and island tour programmes are being focused upon by the Bureau and travel agents, keeping in mind Indians' penchant for shopping, said Visitors Association Inspector General Joseph H Ru.