By KHT Staff
KAOHSIUNG — Kaohsiung City Government said Saturday that the city had recorded the fastest tourism-related growth among Taiwan’s six special municipalities in four measures, crediting concerts and large character-themed events for much of the increase.
The Tourism Bureau said, citing Ministry of Finance and Tourism Administration data, that Kaohsiung had the highest growth rate in accommodation and food-and-beverage revenue in 2025 compared with 2020.
It also said the city ranked first in growth in international visitor arrivals and international tourist spending in 2025 compared with the previous year.
The release did not include the underlying figures for Kaohsiung or the other five special municipalities. It also did not explain how international arrivals and spending were measured, making it difficult to assess the size of the city’s lead.
The 2020 comparison also requires context. That year was heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, meaning a strong percentage increase over five years may reflect a recovery from a low base, as well as changes in travel, prices and consumer spending.
The bureau said Kaohsiung’s concert economy had generated an estimated NT$18.9 billion in tourism output since 2023. It counted 117 concerts with 1.39 million attendees in 2023, followed by 157 concerts and 1.71 million attendees in 2024.
The city said it hosted 109 concerts in 2025. It had recorded 88 concerts and 1.04 million attendees by July this year, a partial-year figure that cannot yet be compared directly with previous full-year totals.
Officials also pointed to the city’s annual winter waterfront events, which have featured internationally known characters and installations. The bureau estimated that the Rubber Duck installation in 2024 drew 9 million visits, while the Chiikawa event in 2025 drew 6 million and this year’s Ultraman event drew 7.31 million.
The city estimated the three events generated NT$36.6 billion in economic benefits. Such figures are economic-impact estimates, rather than a direct count of visitor spending or tax revenue. The attendance totals are reported as visits and do not necessarily represent unique visitors.
Separately, the bureau said Kaohsiung was the only Taiwanese destination included in The Times list, published in July, of 20 recommended places to visit in November. The city said it ranked 10th.
The bureau said it has tried to turn concert crowds into longer stays by distributing night-market vouchers and encouraging businesses to extend operating hours during major events.
